Archive · 8 Dec 2025
EU Fines X $140M for Breaking Transparency Rules
The European Union fined X (formerly Twitter) $140 million for not following transparency rules.
X then blocked the EU’s advertising account, saying the EU tried to trick users.
The EU says X didn’t give clear information about ads and changed its blue checkmark system in a confusing way.
Some leaders in the US think the EU is being unfair to American tech companies.
Both sides are arguing, and it’s making things tense.
X has to fix these issues or face more fines.
This is the first big fine under new EU rules for social media.
The European Union fined X $140 million for violating transparency rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
X blocked the EU’s advertising account, alleging the EU tried to use a loophole to mislead users.
The EU claims X did not provide clear information about its advertising library and changed its blue checkmark system confusingly.
The dispute has drawn criticism from US officials, who argue the EU’s digital rules unfairly target American tech companies.
X has 60 days to submit corrective proposals and 90 days to fully implement them, or face additional fines.
- Who
- European Commission and X (formerly Twitter)
- What
- EU fined X $140 million for violating transparency rules under the DSA
- When
- Recently, with the fine announced days before the account termination
- Where
- Europe and the United States
- Why
- EU fined X for breaking transparency rules; X blocked EU for alleged policy violations
- Reason for Fine
- Breaking transparency rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA)
- EU's Alleged Violation
- Attempted to use a loophole in X’s Ad Composer tool
- X's Response
- Terminated the EU’s advertising account
- US Criticism
- Accuses EU of unfair pressure on American tech companies
- Key Violations
- Deceptive blue checkmark design, lack of ad transparency, restricted researcher access
- DSA Requirements
- Faster content removal, greater accountability for big platforms, algorithm transparency, clear ad identifiers
- Next Steps
- X has 60 days to submit corrective proposals and 90 days to implement them
