Europe (Washington Insider Magazine)- The European Commission announced on Friday that social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA). The allegations mark the first charges against a tech company under the EU’s new social media regulations. Elon Musk, the owner of X, has denied the findings.
Deceptive Blue Checkmarks
The EU claims that X’s blue checkmarks are misleading and fail to meet transparency and accountability standards. These checkmarks, which anyone can now purchase for about seven euros per month, were previously reserved for verified public figures. The European Commission argues that this change deceives users and hampers their ability to discern the authenticity of accounts and content.
Musk’s Strong Response
According to Euronews, Musk responded to the accusations by alleging that the European Commission offered X a secret deal to quietly censor speech in exchange for avoiding fines. He announced plans to take the EU Commission to court, asserting the need for a public battle to reveal the truth to the people of Europe.
Commission’s Denial
European Commissioner Thierry Breton promptly denied the existence of any secret deal. Breton stated that it was Musk’s team who sought clarification on the settlement process and EU concerns. He emphasized that all procedures followed established regulatory guidelines and reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency.
Issues with Ad Transparency and Data Access
The European Commission also criticized X for not complying with ad transparency rules. The DSA requires platforms to maintain a searchable and reliable database of digital advertisements, detailing who paid for them and their target audience. X’s ad database reportedly contains design flaws and access barriers that hinder researchers from analyzing online risks.
Additionally, X is accused of failing to provide researchers with independent access to public data. The DSA mandates that platforms allow researchers to scrutinize their operations and assess online risks. The commission claims X’s data access process dissuades researchers or forces them to pay high fees.
X’s Opportunity to Respond
X now has the chance to respond to these accusations and make necessary changes to comply with the DSA. If the commission is not satisfied, it can impose penalties of up to 6% of X’s annual global revenue and mandate corrective actions.
Ongoing Investigations
These findings are part of a broader investigation into X’s compliance with the DSA. Regulators are still examining whether X adequately curbs the spread of illegal content, such as hate speech and incitement of terrorism, and the effectiveness of its measures to combat information manipulation, particularly through its Community Notes feature.
Other Tech Giants Under Scrutiny
X is not alone in facing scrutiny under the DSA. TikTok, AliExpress, and Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook and Instagram) are also under ongoing investigations for their compliance with the new regulations.