The EU’s Digital Services Act and Blue Ticks: An EU-wide investigation of the X Platform and its breach of the DSA
The EU stated that changes made to the blue check system prevented users from determining the authenticity of accounts they interact with. There is also evidence that malicious actors are abusing the system to intentionally deceive users, according to the EU’s findings.
If X ignores the European Commission’s grievances, it could be fined up to six percent of its global revenue. It’s not clear how much it might lose due to financial penalties since X is a private company. It reaches over 45 million monthly active users in the EU and is a very large online platform.
The crackdown on X comes as the EU ramps up enforcement of its strict rules for big tech companies. The DSA probes will determine whether Meta has done enough to moderate the political, deceptive, or illegal content on the platforms or if children use them.
Enabling any account to pay for a verification breaches the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), European Commission officials said on Friday, because it “negatively affects users’ ability to make free and informed decisions about the authenticity of the accounts.” X now has a chance to respond to the findings. If Musk cannot reach a resolution with the EU, the company faces fines of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover.
Blue checks, which are used to verify the identities of influential accounts, were used before Musk took over X. Blue checks were often used as reliable sources of information among active researchers and journalists.
Supporters of that system argued it helped users identify trustworthy voices, while limiting scammers and impersonators. But Musk decried the arrangement as elitist and “corrupt to the core.” The blue tick for $8 per month was an antidote to the current lords and peasants of social media. There is power to the people. The new subscriber model was announced.
Apple, Microsoft, and Meta are under EU-Règular Charges for Making a Tap and Go Device Available to Local Regulators
In the past month, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta have all been accused of breaking EU rules. Meta and Apple must resolve their cases before March 2025 to avoid fines. Yesterday, Apple said it would make its Tap and Go wallet technology available to rivals, in its latest concession to local regulator demands.
