Is Elon Musk’s X Deceiving Users with Blue Checkmarks? EU Threatens Sanctions

Elon Musk’s platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), has been accused of misleading its users globally. The bone of contention? The controversial blue checkmark, a symbol that once stood for verified authenticity is now available to any user willing to pay a fee.

This shift in policy has triggered sharp scrutiny under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

How it started

European regulators are pointing fingers at X for what they see as a betrayal of trust. The paid blue checkmark, they argue, dilutes the very purpose of verification – to distinguish and authenticate the identity of public figures and entities. 

By opening up this mark to anyone with a credit card, X has, according to EU officials, muddied the waters of digital trustworthiness.

In a detailed statement released last Friday, the European Commission outlined several breaches of the DSA by X, including issues related to “dark patterns,” a lack of advertising transparency, and restricted data access for researchers. This preliminary finding is a critical first step in a process that could see X facing fines up to 6% of its annual global turnover.

The accusations

The EU’s accusations are not just about the commodification of the blue checkmark. They extend into the realms of advertising and data transparency. X is alleged to have set up barriers that prevent a clear understanding and research into the advertising that flows through the platform. 

Moreover, X is accused of denying researchers access to its data, a move that potentially hampers efforts to study and understand the platform’s impact on public discourse.

What you should know 

This isn’t the first time X has been under the EU microscope. Since being designated a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) on April 25, 2023, X has been a focal point for the EU’s efforts to regulate large tech platforms. 

The ongoing investigations also touch on issues such as the spread of illegal content and measures to counter information manipulation.

The ball is now in X’s court. The platform has been allowed to respond to these preliminary findings, defend its practices, and review the evidence compiled by the EU. 

This is a crucial phase where X can contest the findings or propose changes to align more closely with EU regulations.

The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications for X and all digital platforms operating within the EU

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