EU fines Elon Musk’s X €120 million for regulatory breaches
The European Union fined Elon Musk’s X platform €120 million ($140 million) on December 5, 2025, for breaching transparency rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA), marking the first such penalty since the law’s enactment in 2022.
X failed to comply with DSA requirements on advertising transparency, researcher data access, and its blue checkmark verification system. The ad repository suffered from design flaws and delays, hindering detection of scams and misleading campaigns, while paid blue checks were deemed “deceptive design” that confuses users about account authenticity. The fine breaks down proportionally: €45 million for blue checks, €40 million for data access, and €35 million for ad transparency issues.
Elon Musk called the ruling “nonsense” and criticized the EU harshly, even suggesting it “should be abolished,” while emphasizing free speech as democracy’s foundation. US officials decried the move as anti-speech and targeting American firms, potentially escalating transatlantic tensions under President Trump. X has not formally commented beyond Musk’s posts.
