EU Imposes €120M Penalty on X Amid Transatlantic Free Speech Tensions

EU Imposes €120M Penalty on X Amid Transatlantic Free Speech Tensions

On Friday, December 5, 2025, the European Commission announced a €120 million fine (approximately $140 million) against Elon Musk's X platform (formerly Twitter) for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA). This is the first penalty of its kind under the new legislation, which aims to combat illegal content, promote transparency, and prevent data manipulation. The decision sparked tension in the United States, with Vice President Jay De Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Brussels of "censorship" and an "attack on American companies," calling it "the end of the era of European censorship of Americans online." Details of the violations: Misleading blue checkmark and lack of transparency The fine came after a two-year investigation that began in July 2023 and focused on three major violations under the DSA (which came into effect in 2023): Misleading blue checkmark design: After Musk's acquisition in 2022, the checkmark became available…