EU Accuses Elon Musk's Platform X of Breaking Digital Services Law
The European Commission has announced that Platform X, owned by Elon Musk, has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA). This conclusion comes after a thorough investigation into the platform, formerly known as Twitter.
The DSA mandates that major online platforms must combat illegal content and maintain transparency in content moderation and advertising. The Commission identified three specific violations by Platform X, which could lead to fines amounting to 6% of the company's global annual revenue.
One major violation involves the platform's blue checkmark verification system. The Commission found it misleading, as anyone can now purchase verification, undermining its original purpose of authenticating noteworthy users. This change, the Commission argues, deceives users and impacts their ability to make informed decisions about account authenticity.
Additionally, Platform X failed to comply with advertising transparency regulations. The company did not provide adequate access to its ad repository, preventing users from seeing crucial details about advertisers, including ad content, target demographics, and reach.
Lastly, the platform was found to restrict access to public data for researchers, hindering independent studies.
These findings are preliminary, and Platform X now has the opportunity to respond. If confirmed, the company may face heightened regulatory scrutiny and substantial fines.
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