Fri Dec 05 20:20:26 UTC 2025: ## EU Slaps X with Landmark $140M Fine, Igniting US Outrage Over Digital Transparency
Brussels, Belgium – The European Union has levied a €120 million ($140 million) fine on Elon Musk’s social media platform X for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at regulating social media giants. The fine, announced Friday, marks the first enforcement action under the DSA and has sparked a transatlantic row, with US officials accusing the EU of unfairly targeting American businesses.
The EU Commission found X guilty of three violations: deceptive design related to its paid “blue checkmark” verification system (€45 million fine), lack of transparency in advertising records (€35 million fine), and obstructing researcher access to public data (€40 million fine).
The decision has been met with fierce criticism from US figures. Vice President JD Vance accused the EU of punishing X “for not engaging in censorship,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the fine “an attack on all American tech platforms.” Elon Musk echoed these sentiments, responding to the EU’s announcement with “Bulls***.”
However, EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen defended the decision, stating, “Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU.” She emphasized that the EU is simply “holding X responsible for undermining users’ rights.”
European politicians largely welcomed the enforcement action. French Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff called it a “magnificent announcement,” and Germany’s digital minister, Karsten Wildberger, hailed it as a sign that Brussels is “determined to enforce” its rules.
Critics have argued the fine is too lenient, representing only a fraction of the 6% of global revenue allowed under the DSA. X now has 60-90 days to submit compliance plans or face further penalties.
This ruling comes amid broader EU investigations into ten major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. TikTok avoided penalties by pledging to improve its advertising transparency. The EU continues to investigate whether X has failed to combat illegal content and information manipulation, violations that could result in significantly larger fines.
First Piper 