6:52 pm - December 20, 2025
- The European Commission imposes €120 million fine on X for transparency violations under the DSA
- Elon Musk denounces the penalty as ‘crazy’ and politically motivated
- The case tests the enforcement of EU digital regulations and sparks transatlantic dispute
The European Commission has fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X €120 million for breaching transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act. Issued on 5 December, it is the EU’s first non-compliance ruling under the new regime and signals a more assertive phase of platform oversight.
The case tests the DSA’s enforcement power and highlights a widening transatlantic split over how to regulate dominant online platforms. Its outcome could shape how social networks handle verification, advertising disclosure and researcher access across the EU and beyond.
The Commission cited three violations: the “deceptive design” of X’s paid blue checkmark, shortcomings in its advertising repository and the refusal to grant researchers sufficient access to public data. Regulators said the paid checkmark misleads users about account authenticity and raises the risk of impersonation and scams.
They added that the €120 million figure reflects the nature, gravity and duration of the infringements and remains well below the DSA’s maximum threshold. X has 60 days to present a plan to fix the breaches or face further measures.
Musk reacted on X, calling the fine “crazy” and saying it applied “not just on [X], but also on me personally.” He also wrote: “The EU should be abolished,” and warned that the platform’s response would target the officials involved.
US officials and conservative politicians quickly condemned the decision. Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr and other allies of the Trump administration characterised the ruling as hostile to American tech firms and framed it as an assault on free speech and commercial fairness. President Donald Trump has threatened further measures, including new tariffs, if European actions against US tech companies continue.
European regulators argue the DSA’s transparency requirements are essential to protect users, shed light on political advertising and support independent research into systemic risks online. Critics in Washington counter that enforcement risks politicising regulation and unfairly penalising US platforms.
X said it would review the ruling. Reporting indicates the platform also blocked the Commission’s advertising account after the fine, a move analysts described as symbolic because the account had not been active for years.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/624940 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://time.com/7339192/elon-musk-eu-x-fine-trump/ – Elon Musk and Trump Administration officials have strongly criticised the European Union’s €120 million fine imposed on Musk’s social media platform, X, for breaching the Digital Services Act. The fine addresses issues such as the deceptive design of X’s blue checkmark verification system, lack of transparency in its advertising repository, and failure to provide researchers with access to public data. Musk has called for the EU’s abolition, while U.S. officials view the fine as an attack on free speech and American tech companies. ([time.com](https://time.com/7339192/elon-musk-eu-x-fine-trump/?utm_source=openai))
- https://apnews.com/article/0a135601e050518d5aa0a0155f973177 – The European Union has fined Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, €120 million for violating the Digital Services Act. The fine addresses three breaches: the deceptive design of X’s blue checkmark verification system, lack of transparency in its advertising repository, and failure to provide researchers with access to public data. These practices pose risks such as user deception, potential scams, and undermining research into systemic risks. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/0a135601e050518d5aa0a0155f973177?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/12/05/european-commission-fines-x-120-million-for-transparency-violations_6748186_19.html – On December 5, 2025, the European Commission fined X €120 million for breaching the Digital Services Act. The infractions included the misleading use of the blue checkmark verification badge, failure to maintain transparency in its advertising repository, and not granting researchers access to public data. This action follows a two-year investigation and is described as proportionate yet symbolically strong amid growing geopolitical tensions. ([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/12/05/european-commission-fines-x-120-million-for-transparency-violations_6748186_19.html?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/us-official-denounces-eus-fine-musks-x-says-europe-is-taxing-americans-2025-12-05/ – On December 5, 2025, U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr criticised the European Union’s decision to fine Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, for allegedly violating EU online content regulations. Carr expressed his disapproval via a post on X, accusing Europe of unfairly targeting successful American tech companies. He framed the fine as a form of taxation on Americans meant to prop up European systems hindered by their own restrictive regulations. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/us-official-denounces-eus-fine-musks-x-says-europe-is-taxing-americans-2025-12-05/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/12/05/european-commission-hits-elon-musks-social-network-x-with-120-million-fine – The European Commission has fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X €120 million for breaching the Digital Services Act. The fine addresses three violations: the deceptive design of X’s blue checkmark verification system, lack of transparency in its advertising repository, and failure to provide researchers with access to public data. This is the first enforcement action under the DSA and has intensified tensions between the U.S. and Europe over tech regulation. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/12/05/european-commission-hits-elon-musks-social-network-x-with-120-million-fine?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being 5 December 2025. The European Commission’s fine on X was announced on that date, and the report was published on 7 December 2025. No earlier versions with different figures, dates, or quotes were found. The report is based on the Commission’s press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No recycled content or discrepancies were identified. The report includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score. No content was found that appeared more than 7 days earlier. ([digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-fines-x-eu120-million-under-digital-services-act?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Elon Musk and U.S. officials are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were found.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, the European Commission, which issued the fine. The report is published by China Daily Asia, a known news outlet. However, the outlet’s credibility may vary, and it is advisable to cross-reference with other reputable sources.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with the European Commission’s press release. The fine of €120 million for breaching the Digital Services Act is consistent with the Commission’s authority. The reported reactions from Elon Musk and U.S. officials are consistent with their known positions on such matters. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. No excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim was found. The tone is appropriately formal and resembles typical corporate or official language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no recycled content or discrepancies identified. The quotes are unique and potentially original. The source is reputable, though cross-referencing with other outlets is advisable. The claims are plausible and consistent with known information, with minor concerns regarding the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.
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