EU hits Musk's X with €120 million fine over digital rule breaches

Business Dec 05, 2025

Elon Musk's platform X just got fined €120 million by the European Commission for breaking the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The main issues? Letting users buy blue checkmarks (which used to mean "verified"), not being clear about ads, and making it tough for researchers to access platform data.

What happens next—and why it matters

The fine breaks down into €45 million for verification changes, €35 million for ad transparency failures, and €40 million for blocking researcher access.
Musk now has 90 days to fix things or appeal.
Meanwhile, the EU is still investigating X over illegal content and how it handles moderation—showing they're serious about holding big tech accountable.