EU hits X (Twitter) with $140 million fine over digital rules

Business Dec 05, 2025

The European Union just fined X (formerly Twitter) $140 million for breaking its Digital Services Act.
After a two-year investigation, the EU found X misled users with its verified account system and wasn't transparent about ads.
TikTok dodged a fine by promising to improve ad transparency.

Free speech debate and what's next

Some, like US Vice President JD Vance, characterized the move as an attack on free speech, but EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said it's about following the rules and emphasized that the DSA is not about censorship.
The EU says these fines show how seriously they take user protection and digital standards—and they're still checking up on both X and TikTok for other issues like illegal content and child safety.