Regulatory scrutiny in Europe is pushing social media platforms to rethink how verification systems operate. X, the platform formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, has agreed to modify its account verification mechanism in the European Union following a penalty imposed by regulators.
The European Commission confirmed that the company has proposed changes related to its blue check verification feature. Commission spokesperson Thomas Régnier said, “X has submitted remedies in relation to its blue check mark.” He added, “The commission will now carefully assess the proposed remedies.”
Officials did not provide specific details on how the platform plans to adapt the verification system for European users. The company also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In Dec, the European Commission fined X EUR 120 million (about $138 million) under the Digital Services Act, which regulates online content moderation and platform accountability across the European Union. Regulators argued that the platform’s decision to provide verification badges to paying users could mislead people.
Previously, the blue check badge was given mainly to accounts that were at risk of impersonation, including journalists, celebrities and public figures. However, after Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, the verification feature was converted into a paid service.
European regulators said this change could make users believe that verified accounts were trustworthy even if the badge was simply purchased.
The blue check issue was one of the reasons behind the first-ever fine issued under the Digital Services Act. Authorities also raised concerns about the platform’s advertising transparency and its refusal to provide independent researchers with access to public platform data.
X was asked to submit remedies for the verification issue by Mar 12 or face additional periodic penalties. The company, which has appealed the fine, must either pay the penalty or provide a financial guarantee by Mar 16.
The regulatory decision has also triggered political tensions between Europe and the United States. The penalty imposed on Musk’s company led to a diplomatic dispute involving allies of US President Donald Trump.
Members of the administration, including Vice President JD Vance, criticised the European Union and accused it of censorship. They also announced visa bans against former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and several anti-disinformation activists. Breton, who served as Europe’s technology regulator until 2024, had frequently disagreed with Musk over X’s compliance with the Digital Services Act.
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