New Delhi: Elon Musk owned social media platform X has been fined by the European Union. The penalty is $140 million for breaking one of its major tech
rules. This case has been seen as an early test of how strictly Europe is ready to control large tech companies, even if it upsets the Trump administration in the United States.
X is the first company to be punished under the EU’s Digital Services Act. This law was created to make big online platforms stop fake activity, limit illegal content and make their systems more transparent. However, the Trump administration has argued that these rules are a threat to free speech and an attack on American tech companies.
EU Says Fine on X Is About Safety, Not Free Speech
Officials in Brussels said the fine has nothing to do with limiting speech. They said it is about X failing to put proper checks in place to stop the platform from being misused. Regulators pointed out that X used “deceptive design” features that let people hide or twist their identities, did not make ads clear enough, and blocked independent researchers from getting access to public data.
Henna Virkkunen, executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy at the European Commission, said in a statement: “Deceiving users with blue check marks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU. We are holding X responsible for undermining users’ rights and evading accountability.”
X did not reply to requests for comment. Musk can still appeal the EU’s decision, which could turn this into a long legal fight.
Washington Backs Musk in EU Clash
Several officials in the Trump administration defended Musk and attacked the EU for the fine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the action was an attack on “the American people by foreign governments.” FCC chair Brendan Carr criticised Europe for “suffocating regulations.” Before the fine was officially announced, Vice President JD Vance said: “The EU should be supporting free speech, not attacking American companies over garbage.” Musk responded to Vance by saying: “Much appreciated.”
The fine was expected months earlier but was delayed during trade talks between the EU and the United States. This may not be the last penalty X faces in Europe. Another, larger investigation is already in progress focusing on the company’s minimal approach to moderating content.
