The European Union has fined Elon Musk’s platform, X, $140 million for violating the Digital Services Act.
Regulators say X misled users with its blue check system, failed to maintain a working ad transparency repository, and blocked researchers from accessing required data.
The Commission said it preferred cooperation, noting TikTok avoided penalties by offering concessions.
Musk pushes back
Musk says he will fight the charges instead of negotiating with EU officials. The EU launched its investigation in 2022 and formally accused X in 2024 of failing to be transparent and turning verification into a paid feature.
The platform, which serves over 100 million EU users, could have faced fines of up to 6% of its global revenue.
The case adds strain to US-EU tech relations. US officials accuse Europe of targeting American companies, while the EU insists the rules apply equally to all firms.