E.U. fines Musk’s X $140 million for violating hate speech and misinformation rules

The European Commission announced on Friday that it is penalizing Elon Musks social media platform X with a fine of approximately $140 million, citing breaches of the European Unions digital regulations. This action is expected to provoke a strong response from the U.S. government.

According to the Commission, X failed to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive 2022 legislation requiring online platforms to actively tackle hate speech and false information. The DSA, one of the EUs broadest measures to regulate online content, obliges companies to implement procedures to remove posts deemed illegal under the laws of EU member states.

The fine provoked criticism even before the official announcement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance commented on X, arguing that the EU should encourage free speech rather than penalize American companies. He described the potential fine as an attack over "garbage content."

The European Commission emphasized that its regulations are not aimed at any nationality, but are designed to uphold digital and democratic standards within the EU. Following the fine, Henna Virkkunen, the EUs commissioner for digital affairs, stated that the penalty was proportionate, reflecting the seriousness, duration, and impact of the violations on EU users.

Virkkunen stressed that the DSA is not intended as a censorship tool and noted that future enforcement actions against other companies under the DSA are expected to conclude more quickly than the nearly two-year investigation into X.

The proceedings against X began in late 2023, marking the first DSA investigation of its kind. Regulators initially flagged several issues, including alleged dissemination of illegal content related to Hamas attacks on Israel and concerns over Xs distribution of verified status badges to paying users.

Elon Musk has previously faced tension with European leaders. In January, officials from France, Germany, and two other countries criticized Musks influence and cautioned against interference in their domestic politics. Musk, who has been linked to far-right political figures globally, remains a controversial figure in European political discourse.

X has the right to challenge the European Commissions decision in court. In April, the company stated it was ready to contest potential enforcement measures, describing them as acts of political censorship. X also affirmed its commitment to complying with the DSA while protecting users and freedom of speech across Europe.

Author: Gavin Porter