US hits out at EU's 'suffocating regulations' after it fines Elon Musk's X
4 days ago
- #Tech censorship
- #Social media
- #EU regulations
- The EU fined Elon Musk's social media platform X €120m for deceiving users with its blue tick badges, claiming it doesn't verify account holders properly.
- US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and FCC chair Brendan Carr, criticized the EU's action as an attack on American tech companies and free speech.
- The EU accused X of failing to provide transparency around ads and restricting researchers' access to public data, in addition to the blue tick issue.
- This is the first enforcement action under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), targeting X's non-compliance with regulations.
- Elon Musk's changes to the verification system, tying blue ticks to a paid subscription, were controversial and seen as increasing risks of scams and misinformation.
- Experts suggest the fine is a statement of the EU's intent to enforce tech regulations strictly, with X being an 'easy first target'.