A Fine, A Blue Check, and a Blowback
The fight between X and the European Commission began last week, when regulators issued a €120M fine over the platform’s blue-tick system. The system, according to the Commission, created deceptive signals of verification without actually verifying users. The ruling came under the Digital Services Act, the EU’s still-new but already aggressive tech rulebook.
Now the feud has entered an entirely new phase. X blocked the Commission from running ads on its platform. A senior X executive publicly accused the EU of abusing an advertising loophole. The Commission responded by calling the accusation nonsense. And both sides escalated from there.
This situation grew into something larger than a simple compliance squabble. It revealed the tension between U.S. tech platforms and European regulators. It exposed how quickly content moderation politics can turn into geopolitical messaging. And it showed — again — that X under Elon Musk does not back away from a fight.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The European Commission fined X on Friday under the Digital Services Act. Regulators said the platform’s blue-tick badge misled users. The badge appeared as a sign of identity verification, even though X was not verifying anything. The Commission noted this design opened the door for scams, impersonation, and coordinated manipulation.
X received 60 days to respond or face further penalties. Musk fired back instantly. He posted that the EU “should be abolished.” He amplified users comparing the EU to fascist systems. And his team took operational action soon after.
X Terminates the EU’s Ad Account
Nikita Bier, an executive inside X, accused the Commission of abusing an advertising exploit. He claimed the regulator used a dormant account to push a promoted post about the fine. He said the EU “believed the rules do not apply” to them.
Then X terminated the Commission’s ad account.
The Commission responded through BBC News, stating that it “uses platforms in good faith” and that it simply uses tools made available.
U.S. Officials Enter the Conversation
The dispute crossed the Atlantic within hours. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the FCC criticised the EU’s fine, calling it censorship. They said Europe targeted American companies unfairly. They added that “the days of censoring Americans online are over.”
Their comments strengthened X’s political positioning. The moment turned into a familiar formula: Europe wants regulation, U.S. tech companies frame it as overreach, and American politicians defend the platforms.
A History of Fights With Regulators
X already faced a series of international battles.
Brazil temporarily banned the platform in 2024 due to misinformation concerns.
Australia fined X A$610,000 for failing to comply with investigations into child-safety practices.
This latest EU dispute adds another entry to the list, but with more geopolitical heat.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The clash between X and the European Commission is ongoing. The EU expects a formal response within the 60-day window. X shows no sign of softening. Brussels prepares for an appeal. Musk gears up for a public fight. The disagreement between platform autonomy and government oversight deepens.
MY FORECAST: This conflict moves into a bigger battleground next year. X prepares for more fines. The EU prepares for stronger enforcement. The U.S. prepares to defend its platforms. Social networks transform again as political messaging and legal compliance collide.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech