Why did the European Commission fine X?

The European Commission fined X 120 million euros for violating transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act, citing deceptive design of blue checkmarks and lack of advertiser transparency.

What is the Digital Services Act?

The Digital Services Act is an EU law designed to regulate digital platforms, ensuring greater transparency and reducing harmful content online.

What are the consequences for X if it doesn't comply?

If X fails to address the European Commission's concerns within the specified timeframes, it could face additional fines.

Home / Business and Economy / EU Fines X 120M Euros Over Blue Check Deception

EU Fines X 120M Euros Over Blue Check Deception

5 Dec, 2025

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Summary

X fined 120 million euros by European Commission for transparency violations.
Deceptive blue checkmark design and lack of advertiser transparency cited.
Platform has 60 days to address issues or face further penalties.

EU Fines X 120M Euros Over Blue Check Deception

The European Commission has levied a substantial fine of 120 million euros against X, formerly Twitter, for breaching transparency obligations mandated by the Digital Services Act. The executive arm of the EU specifically took issue with the platform's "deceptive design" concerning its blue checkmark verification badges and a general lack of transparency surrounding its advertisers.

This action by the Commission follows an investigation launched in 2023 into X's compliance with the Digital Services Act, a regulation aimed at curbing harmful online content. The shift in X's verification policy, allowing anyone to purchase a blue checkmark without rigorous identity verification, is a primary concern, potentially exposing users to fraud and impersonation.