News Desk
WASHINGTON: The European Union fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X $140m after finding the company in breach of strict digital content rules designed to curb illegal and harmful material online.
The penalty followed a two-year investigation by the European Commission, which concluded that X had failed to take “effective action” against unlawful posts and disinformation circulating on the platform. Officials said the company did not put in place the systems required under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), one of the bloc’s toughest regulatory regimes for tech firms.
Musk responded by defending X’s approach to free expression, saying freedom of speech formed “the foundation of democracy”. US officials also criticized the decision, calling it evidence of bias against American tech companies.
Brussels rejected those claims, insisting the enforcement action was not aimed at any particular nation but at ensuring compliance with online safety rules. Regulators noted that other major platforms, including TikTok, had avoided similar penalties by offering concessions and adjusting their policies to meet DSA requirements.
