Consequences in action: EU Commission fines X for DSA-violation

Today, the European Commission imposed a €120 million fine on X (formerly Twitter) for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, comments on the decision:

“The Commission’s decision finally shows that European laws work. Anyone who violates transparency, safety, or consumer-protection rules online must expect consequences. If companies want to operate in the European market, they have to follow European rules – no matter how closely platform owners may be aligned with the Trump administration.

Trump has been trying to pressure the EU for months, but our values and laws are not up for negotiation. I hope this fine finally makes it clear to the White House that we will consistently implement and enforce our digital legislation to protect European users.”

Background:

The law, which entered into force in February 2024, obliges large platforms like X to ensure transparency, effective content moderation, protection against disinformation, clarity in advertising, and access to data. According to the Commission’s decision, the fine is composed of three parts: €45 million for the misleading design of the verification checkmarks, €40 million for failing to provide researchers with legally required data access, and €35 million for insufficient transparency in advertising.

This penalty concludes only one aspect of the DSA investigation that has been ongoing for almost two years – the first case ever launched under the new law. Other major parts of the probe, including X’s efforts to counter illegal content and combat disinformation and manipulation campaigns, are still ongoing.