Photo: Wikipedia
The European Commission has stated that the social network X (formerly known as Twitter), owned by billionaire Elon Musk, is in violation of certain provisions of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). According to preliminary findings by the EC, X fails to meet requirements regarding transparency of advertising and access to open data for researchers. Specific concerns were raised regarding the interface of “verified accounts,” which the commission argues misleads users.
According to the EC, the interface for “verified accounts” with a “blue badge” does not adhere to industry standards and may lead to doubts about the authenticity of profiles and published information. Any user can request such a status, which, according to the EC, can be exploited by malicious actors to deceive other users.
Additionally, the EC has raised issues with X regarding inadequate transparency of advertising and the lack of access to data for researchers. The company has time to review and respond to these claims, but if necessary, the EC is prepared to impose fines of up to 6% of X’s global annual turnover.
“Currently, X has the right to defend itself, but if our findings are confirmed, we will impose fines and require substantial changes,” said Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market.
The Digital Services Act came into force in the European Union in August 2023, obliging companies to combat racism, drug trafficking, counterfeit goods, child pornography, and misinformation.
Source: dw
