EU slaps €120 million fine on X over breaching digital rules
In a significant move to enforce its digital regulations, the European Union has imposed a hefty fine of €120 million on X, a social media platform owned by Elon Musk, for breaching rules under the Digital Services Act. The fine, which is one of the largest imposed by the EU on a tech company, is a clear indication of the bloc’s commitment to ensuring that digital platforms comply with its regulations.
According to EU Vice President Henna Virkkunen, the breaches concern three main areas: the deceptive design of the blue checkmark, lack of transparency in the ads repository, and failure to provide access to public data for researchers. “The breaches concern deceptive design of the blue checkmark, lack of transparency in ads repository, and failure to provide access to public data for researchers,” she said. The EU VP also emphasized that compliance with rules is a straightforward matter, stating, “If you comply with rules, you don’t get fined. It’s as simple as that.”
The Digital Services Act, which came into effect in 2022, aims to regulate digital platforms and ensure that they operate in a transparent and fair manner. The law requires platforms to provide clear information about their content moderation policies, advertising practices, and data collection methods. It also mandates that platforms provide access to their data for researchers, to help them better understand the impact of digital platforms on society.
The fine imposed on X is a clear indication that the EU is serious about enforcing its digital regulations. The EU has been critical of tech companies, including X, for their handling of user data, spread of misinformation, and lack of transparency in their advertising practices. The bloc has been working to strengthen its digital regulations, including the Digital Services Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to ensure that tech companies operate in a responsible and transparent manner.
The deceptive design of the blue checkmark is one of the areas where X has been found to be in breach of EU regulations. The blue checkmark, which is used to verify the authenticity of accounts, has been criticized for being misleading and confusing. The EU has ruled that X’s design of the blue checkmark is deceptive, as it does not clearly indicate the criteria used to verify accounts. This lack of transparency has led to confusion among users, with some accounts being mistakenly verified or denied verification.
The lack of transparency in X’s ads repository is another area where the platform has been found to be in breach of EU regulations. The EU requires that digital platforms provide clear and transparent information about their advertising practices, including the criteria used to target ads and the data collected from users. X has been criticized for failing to provide adequate information about its advertising practices, making it difficult for users to understand how their data is being used.
The failure to provide access to public data for researchers is also a significant breach of EU regulations. The EU requires that digital platforms provide access to their data for researchers, to help them better understand the impact of digital platforms on society. X has been criticized for failing to provide adequate access to its data, making it difficult for researchers to study the platform’s impact on society.
The fine imposed on X is a significant development in the EU’s efforts to regulate digital platforms. The EU has been working to strengthen its digital regulations, including the Digital Services Act and the GDPR, to ensure that tech companies operate in a responsible and transparent manner. The fine is a clear indication that the EU is serious about enforcing its digital regulations and will not hesitate to take action against companies that fail to comply.
The impact of the fine on X is likely to be significant. The platform has been facing increasing scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers, who are concerned about its handling of user data and spread of misinformation. The fine is likely to add to the pressure on X to reform its practices and ensure that it is complying with EU regulations.
In conclusion, the EU’s decision to fine X €120 million for breaching digital rules is a significant development in the bloc’s efforts to regulate digital platforms. The fine is a clear indication that the EU is serious about enforcing its digital regulations and will not hesitate to take action against companies that fail to comply. The breaches concern deceptive design of the blue checkmark, lack of transparency in ads repository, and failure to provide access to public data for researchers. As EU VP Henna Virkkunen stated, “If you comply with rules, you don’t get fined. It’s as simple as that.” The fine is likely to have a significant impact on X and the wider tech industry, and will be closely watched by regulators and lawmakers around the world.
News source: https://amp.dw.com/en/eu-imposes-120-million-fine-on-elon-musks-x-for-breaking-digital-rules/a-75033724
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