EU slaps $140 million penalty on X for Digital Services Act violations

The decision follows a two-year probe into the platform’s compliance with the DSA

by e4m Staff
Published: Dec 6, 2025 10:25 AM | 1 min read

In one of its strongest enforcement actions under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Commission has fined Elon Musk–owned X €120 million ($140 million) for failing to meet the bloc’s transparency and safety mandates.

The decision, announced on Friday (December 5, 2025), follows a two-year probe into the platform’s compliance with the DSA — the EU’s sweeping digital rulebook that demands large platforms take greater responsibility for user safety, content moderation and transparency or face significant financial penalties.

According to the Commission, X violated three core transparency requirements.

The biggest red flag: the platform’s blue checkmark system, which regulators said amounted to “deceptive design” capable of misleading users and exposing them to scams and manipulation — a direct breach of the DSA’s consumer protection guidelines.

The EU further found that X’s advertising transparency database was incomplete and failed to meet mandatory disclosure standards. Additionally, the company did not provide researchers with the required level of access to public data, undermining efforts to study platform risks — another core DSA obligation.

The fine reinforces Europe’s push for tighter oversight of digital platforms, particularly around safety, transparency and consumer protection—areas that continue to shape global regulatory conversations.