Tensions between X and the European Union have reached one of the highest levels in history. The European Commission fined the platform X €120 million (approximately $140 million), its first major sanction under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission stated that the platform’s blue tick system was misleading and left users vulnerable to fraud and impersonation accounts. It also emphasized that X’s advertising pool did not meet transparency and accessibility requirements.
Crisis escalates between Elon Musk and the EU: Ad account blocked
Immediately after the announcement of the fine, X’s owner, Elon Musk, reacted strongly. Musk called the decision “absurd” and voiced his disapproval by posting posts against the European Union. However, the incidents were not limited to verbal exchanges. The Commission gave the company 60 days to address concerns about the blue tick system and 90 days for advertising transparency violations. Otherwise, the company could face additional penalties.
Following these developments, X’s Product Manager, Nikita Bier, announced over the weekend that the European Commission’s ad account had been closed. The company maintains that this decision was not retaliation for the fine. Bier alleged that the Commission exploited a bug in the Ad Composer tool by exploiting a “dormant” ad account on the platform. The Commission allegedly exploited this vulnerability to artificially increase access by displaying links as videos.
Nikita Bier argued that everyone should have an equal voice on the platform and stated that the rules also apply to the Commission. X officials stated that the software vulnerability in question had been patched and had not been exploited in this way before. This action effectively terminated the Commission’s ad account.
The European Commission, however, denied the accusations in a statement to foreign media. A spokesperson stated that they always use the tools offered by the platforms in good faith. The Commission only uses the “Post Composer” tool offered by X and expects these tools to comply with its own rules. The Commission also reminded the public that they had actually suspended paid advertising on X in October 2023, and that this suspension remains in effect.
Such clashes between tech giants and regulatory bodies are crucial for the future of digital platforms. In this incident, where both sides accuse each other of non-compliance with the rules, issues of transparency and security are once again at the forefront. So, what are your thoughts on this fierce battle between X, under the leadership of Elon Musk, and the European Union?
