EU Privacy Regulators Worried That Twitter Blue Will Be Launched Without Consultation First

Elon Musk has launched a Twitter Blue subscription service without consultation in Europe. (photo: Twitter @TwitterBlue)

JAKARTA - The EU privacy regulator leading Twitter said on Tuesday March 7 that it was worried that Elon Musk's company had launched a Twitter Blue subscription service in the region without consulting its office, despite pledging to do so.

Twitter, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the media, has in recent days launched the service in several EU markets. They offer previously free types of blue ticks for verified public accounts to anyone willing to pay. The service was launched last year in the United States, now also available in Indonesia.

Irish Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon, Twitter's main EU regulator due to the European headquarters's location in Dublin, said the service poses privacy concerns, including account verification to prevent users from posing as public figures.

"We are somewhat more worried this week because we saw that the blue tick subscription service was launched in EU countries after receiving assurances that it would not be launched in the EU and of course not before discussions with our offices," Dixon said in an interview.

"Although no official investigation has yet been launched, we are in a higher level of contact with Twitter," he said. He also explained the consultation before product launch as the "best practice".

Dixon last November expressed concern about the sharp impact of cutting work on Twitter's ability to fulfill privacy obligations following Musk's billionaire takeover the previous month.

"Twitter now has "very strong data protection officials," but outside the data protection office, it's clear there's another force at play. And we need to understand a little more about that," added Dixon.