The European Commission (EC) has concluded its 2024 investigation into X, imposing a fine of €120 million (approximately $140 million) on the social network. The EC determined that X’s use of the blue checkmark was misleading, as it suggested verified user status. However, anyone could purchase this status without the company adequately verifying the account holder’s identity.
This practice violates the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires online platforms to eliminate deceptive design practices.
The fine also addresses deficiencies in X’s advertisement repository, which fails to comply with the DSA’s transparency and accessibility standards. According to the EC, accessible and searchable ad repositories are essential for researchers and civil society to identify scams, hybrid threat campaigns, coordinated disinformation, and fraudulent ads.
However, X’s ad repository incorporates design features and barriers such as prolonged processing delays that hinder its intended purpose. Additionally, it lacks crucial details including the ad content, topic, and the legal entity responsible for the advertisement.
Furthermore, X has been found non-compliant for restricting researcher access to its public data, another requirement under the DSA. X's terms of service prohibit eligible researchers from independently accessing this data — including via scraping — and its access procedures impose unnecessary obstacles, limiting critical research into systemic risks within the EU.
X is required to propose specific remedial measures within 60 working days to address the misleading blue checkmark issue. It has 90 days to respond regarding improvements to its ad repository and public data accessibility for researchers. After reviewing X’s action plans, the EC’s Board of Digital Services will provide an opinion within one month, followed by the EC’s final decision and a reasonable implementation timeline.
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