Musk criticizes EU for imposing fine on X for violating transparency rules

Elon Musk expressed strong criticism of the European Union on Saturday after the European Commission levied a substantial fine on his social media company, X. Musk wrote on X: "The EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countries, so governments can better represent their citizens." He added, "European bureaucracy is gradually choking the continent."

The fine, announced on Friday, amounts to 120 million ($140 million) and was imposed for violations of transparency regulations. The EU accused X of misleadingly verifying user accounts with blue badges, withholding data from academic researchers, and failing to clearly disclose information about advertisements.

The European Commission described the penalty as proportional to the breach. The decision also drew criticism from U.S. political figures. Senator Marco Rubio commented on X: "The European Commission's $140 million fine is not just aimed at X, it targets all American technology companies and the American people."

Musk did not confirm whether he would challenge the fine legally. He pinned his statement to the top of his X profile, ensuring it is prominently visible to all visitors. In subsequent posts, he continued to denounce the EU, alleging censorship and advocating for U.S. sanctions against the bloc.

Author: Grace Ellison