On December 5, 2025, the European Commission imposed a €120 million fine on X, formerly Twitter—its first enforcement action under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The stated violations had nothing to do with incitement, fraud, or child exploitation. The Commission objected to the design of X’s blue checkmark, the layout of its advertising repository, and […]
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OnDecember5,2025,theEuropeanCommissionimposeda€120millionfineonX,formerlyTwitter—itsfirstenforcementactionundertheDigitalServicesAct(DSA).Thestatedviolationshadnothingtodowithincitement,fraud,orchildexploitation.TheCommissionobjectedtothedesignofX’sbluecheckmark,thelayoutofitsadvertisingrepository,anditsdata-sharingarrangementswithacademicresearchers(readtheCommission’sdecisionhere).InthebureaucraticvocabularyofBrussels,theseconstitutedbreachesof“transparencyobligations.”Inplainerlanguage,theworld’smostpowerfulunelectedregulatorybodyhadjustdemonstratedthatitcouldextractnine-figurepenaltiesfromanAmericancompanyforinterfacedesignchoicesthatnoEuropeancitizenwas
