The European Union said Friday that blue checkmarks from Elon Musk’s X are misleading and that the online platform falls short on transparency and accountability requirements, the first charges against a tech company since the bloc’s new social media regulations took effect.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk‘s X platform is deceiving users with its blue checkmarks for certified accounts, and is also violating EU content rules, Brussels said Friday, in a finding that could lead to hefty fines.
EU regulators are unhappy with changes Musk made to the blue badge system since anyone can now obtain it via a premium subscription, whereas previously it was reserved for verified accounts including leaders, companies and journalists, and subject to approval.
Musk overhauled the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, including changing its name, after purchasing it in October 2022.
But his plans for X have put him at odds with Brussels since the EU wants big tech to do more to protect users online and increase competition in the digital sphere.
“There is evidence of motivated malicious actors abusing the ‘verified account’ to deceive users,” it added.
“The DSA IS misinformation!” Musk wrote in reply to a senior EU official.
Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/musks-x-misleads-users-blue-100910819.html