X agrees to pay 120 million euros to Europe and tries to avoid further sanctions

While tensions between major platforms and the European Union are not new, they have reached a new level.

Elon Musk's social network, already under scrutiny from regulators, has just complied with a hefty financial penalty. But beyond the payment, a whole series of adjustments are taking shape behind the scenes.

A fine linked to the Digital Services Act

As Le Figaro reminds us, X has finally agreed to pay a fine of 120 million euros imposed by the European Commission. This sanction, handed down last December, is based on violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). At the time, Elon Musk reacted strongly on his social network, and the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, even spoke out in support of the billionaire. Among the shortcomings cited, Europe mentions a lack of transparency regarding advertising, limited access to data for researchers, and the blue checkmark system, which was deemed misleading. This system, intended to verify users' identities, has been widely criticized since its redesign with the introduction of Twitter Blue. Despite an appeal filed with the European courts, the platform had to either pay the fine or provide a financial guarantee. She ultimately chose to pay on time, thus avoiding additional penalties.

Adjustments to Avoid Further Sanctions

Beyond the financial aspect, X also proposed several corrective measures to meet European requirements. One initial change concerns the blue checkmarks, the function of which could be revised to limit abuse and clarify their meaning.

Furthermore, the platform submitted proposals regarding data publicity and transparency, with elements that are now being examined by the European Commission, which will have to assess their compliance with the DSA.

For Elon Musk, the timeline remains very tight. Indeed, X has until April 28 to present comprehensive solutions for the other identified violations. And if the measures prove insufficient, further sanctions could be imposed on the social network.

Is regulation becoming increasingly prevalent in Europe?

While this episode concerns only Elon Musk's social network, it's worth noting that this case is yet another illustration of the growing power of European regulation in the face of digital giants.

And despite numerous criticisms, particularly from the United States and even from the government, Brussels is maintaining its stance and gradually imposing its standards on international platforms…