The European Union has imposed a significant fine of €120 million on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, marking the first major penalty under the Digital Services Act. This ruling, announced on March 15, 2024, has elicited a sharp reaction from Elon Musk, who took to X to describe the penalty as “Bullshit.”
Following the announcement, tension escalated as Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, accused the European Commission of exploiting the platform for publicity. Bier claimed that the Commission had reactivated its advertising account, which had been inactive since 2021, specifically to draw attention to the fine. He asserted that the announcement included a link designed to look like a video, which he believes was intended to boost engagement.
Bier’s accusations highlight a contentious relationship between the tech giant and European regulators. In response to the Commission’s actions, he confirmed that X had disabled the Commission’s advertising account. While this move may appear to be a significant step, it is largely symbolic given the Commission’s lack of advertising activity for several years.
Despite the deactivation of the advertising account, X remains liable for the substantial fine and is expected to comply with regulatory requirements. Under the Digital Services Act, X has sixty days to outline its plan to address what regulators have identified as misleading uses of verified checkmarks on the platform. Failure to meet these obligations could result in further penalties.
Enquiries have been sent to the European Commission for additional information regarding their rationale behind the fine and the related advertising activities. An update will be provided if a response is received.
This incident underscores the growing tension between technology platforms and regulatory bodies as governments seek to impose stricter controls on digital services and advertising practices.
