Elon Musk vs. EU: X (Twitter) Social Media Battle

Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, has reacted angrily after the European Union fined the company 120 million euros ($210 million) for breaching the Digital Services Act. Musk has called the EU a “bureaucratic monster” and suggested it “should be abolished.”

Why has the EU fined X?

The EU’s Digital Services Act, which came into force in 2022, establishes a legal framework for content moderation, transparency, and accountability for tech firms. In December 2023, the EU launched a formal investigation into whether X was complying with the new law, focusing on measures to prevent the spread of illegal content and misinformation, as well as advertising transparency.

On Friday, the European Commission announced its decision, stating X had breached the law on three separate occasions. The first breach involved “deceiving users with blue check-marks.” Previously, verification badges on X (formerly Twitter) were primarily reserved for notable individuals. After Musk’s acquisition, badges became available to anyone who paid $8 per month, without meaningful verification of account ownership.

Regulators stated this practice amounted to “deceptive design practices” that could expose users to scams and impersonation fraud. The second breach concerned shortcomings in the transparency requirements for X’s ad database. Platforms in the EU are required to maintain a database detailing all digital advertisements, including payer information and intended audience, to aid in detecting scams and coordinated influence campaigns. However, X’s database is hampered by design flaws and access barriers, such as “excessive delays in processing.”

Finally, the commission found X imposed “unnecessary barriers” for researchers attempting to access public data. X remains under investigation regarding its efforts to combat the spread of illegal content and information manipulation.

How did Musk react?

Musk responded to the fine by calling it “bullshit” in a reply to a European Commission post. He then posted to his 230 million followers that the EU should be “abolished,” and later stated, “The people of Europe should withdraw from the EU to regain their sovereignty.” He added, “I love Europe, but not the bureaucratic monster that is the EU.” He also re-shared images mocking the EU, including one suggesting it was the “Fourth Reich.”

Which US officials have weighed in?

Several US officials have condemned the EU’s fine, including Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance. Trump called the fine “a nasty one” and said he did not understand its justification. Rubio posted on X that the fine was an attack on the American people. Vance accused the commission of infringing on free speech.

What has the EU said?

EU officials have denied the rules are intended to silence tech companies, stating the fines were implemented fairly. EU chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said, “It’s part of freedom of speech to put out even completely crazy statements.” Spokesman Thomas Regnier added that the commission is “not targeting anyone…This is based on a process, a democratic process.” Germany’s digital minister Karsten Wildberger agreed the EU’s digital rules “apply to everyone.” France’s digital affairs minister Anne Le Henanff hailed the EU’s decision as “historic,” stating, “By sanctioning X, Europe shows it is capable of moving from words to action.”

ABC