Elon Musk has reacted strongly to a hefty fine levied by the European Union against his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). The EU’s executive branch imposed a €120 million (approximately $140 million) penalty, citing X’s failure to adhere to transparency regulations stipulated by the Digital Services Act.
Musk’s Response: Abolish the EU?
Musk’s immediate response was fiery. He took to X to express his discontent, stating that the “EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countries,” arguing this would allow governments to better represent their citizens. He further questioned the EU’s longevity, asking, “How long before the EU is gone?” and adding that Europe was “sleep–walking into oblivion.”
The EU’s Reasoning: Transparency and Deceptive Practices
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, detailed the reasons behind the fine. The commission pointed to several compliance failures, including:
- Deceptive Design of Verification Checkmarks: X was found to be misleading users by selling “verified” checkmarks without proper verification of account holders. This practice, according to the EU, makes it difficult for users to assess authenticity and increases vulnerability to scams and impersonation.
Lack of Advertising Transparency: The platform’s ad repository was deemed inadequate, failing to provide users and researchers with crucial information regarding ad content, topics, and sponsors.
Insufficient Data Access for Researchers: X was also criticized for restricting researcher access to public data, creating “unnecessary barriers” and hindering research into systemic risks within the EU.
Musk defended his stance, clarifying that he “loved” the continent but not “the bureaucratic monster that is the EU.” He urged European citizens to “withdraw from the EU to regain their sovereignty,” emphasizing he was “not kidding.”
US Politicians Weigh In
The fine imposed on X has drawn reactions from prominent figures within the United States, particularly those aligned with the Trump administration.
- Marco Rubio: The US Secretary of State described the fine as an “attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments,” asserting that the era of censoring Americans online was “over.”
Ted Cruz: The Republican senator from Texas labeled the fine an “abomination” and an “attack on a great American job creator” and the “free speech of every American.” Cruz suggested that former President Trump should impose sanctions until the decision is reversed.
JD Vance: The Vice President had previously commented on the potential fine, stating that the EU should be supporting free speech rather than attacking American companies over censorship concerns.
X’s Next Steps
X has approximately three months to inform the EU leadership about the specific measures it intends to implement to rectify the identified infringements. The European Commission also has a separate ongoing investigation related to the dissemination of illegal content and the effectiveness of measures to combat information manipulation on the platform.
Impact on Users
The EU’s Digital Services Act aims to create a safer digital space for users. With approximately 102 million monthly users in the EU, according to X’s own transparency report, the platform’s compliance with the act is crucial. France has the highest number of monthly users within the bloc, exceeding 18 million, followed by Spain with around 17 million.
Past Controversies
This isn’t the first time Musk has faced challenges in foreign countries. In Brazil, the Supreme Court briefly shut down X nationwide after Musk refused to appoint a legal representative in the country and refused to comply with a court order to close profiles accused of spreading fake news. X eventually complied with Brazil’s demands, and the platform was restored.
