X Is Threatened With Big Fines From The European Union, This Is The Cause

JAKARTA - Elon Musk's social media company, X (formerly Twitter), is back in the spotlight after taking unexpected steps to avoid a large fine from the European Union.

According to sources familiar with the matter, X prominently displayed a disclaimer on the blue tick badge (blue checkmark) an attempt that appeared to aim to reduce pressure from the regulator.

The move comes after the European Commission accused X of misleading practices, stating that the blue tick badge no longer followed industry standards.

In the past, this symbol showed the verified identity of a public figure. But since Elon Musk took over the company in 2022, a blue tick is given to anyone who pays for a subscription service regardless of the authenticity of its identity.

Although X has not admitted any wrongdoing, the addition of an explanation (disclaimer) regarding the meaning of a blue tick has started to appear striking since last week. Interestingly, this action is not part of an official agreement with EU regulators, according to an anonymous source.

The European Commission confirmed that it was "recording" step X, but confirmed that the investigation related to the blue tick was still ongoing.

Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), big tech companies like X are required to take firm steps in dealing with illegal and harmful content. If they violate, they can be fined up to 6% of total annual global income.

X has yet to provide an official response to a request for comment. But it is clear that the future of this platform on the European market will be determined by how serious they are in compliance with digital rules that are now getting tighter.