Commission: X is ‘deceiving’ its users with ‘blue ticks’ – On the wall, Elon Musk

Commission calling. X (formerly) ‘deceives’ its users and violates the rules of the European Union with the ‘blue checkmarks’ which are supposed to certify reliable sources of information, the European Commission appreciates with an opinion that opens the way to imposing heavy fines. The Commission considers that Elon Musk’s Twitter violates its transparency obligations in relation to advertisements and access to platform data for researchers. “X now has the right to defend itself, but if our opinion is confirmed, we will impose fines and demand significant changes,” European Digital Economy Commissioner Thierry Breton warned. The warning is the first under the new Digital Services Regulation (DSA) which came into force last year to protect users from dangerous content. Warning The warning may result in a final decision on non-compliance in the coming months if the company does not correct the identified defects, and then financial penalties which may reach 6% of the annual turnover of X. There is no final date for the completion of the above procedures. ‘X establishes and exploits the interface for ‘certified accounts’ with ‘blue tick’ in a way that does not correspond to industry practices and deceives users,’ the Commission states in its communication. ‘Any person who may pay assistance to obtain ‘certified’, which harms the ability of users to make decisions free and enlightened for the authenticity of the accounts with which they interact. There is evidence that malicious factors abuse these possibilities, according to the text of the communication. In addition, the European Commission is continuing investigations which can lead to two additional categories: transmission of illegal content and inadequate measures against the manipulation of information. The Commission expressed in September concerns about the highly increased volume of counterfeit information published in X following tests carried out in many social media. Preliminary process began on October 12, five days after Hamas attacks on Israel. Then an official investigation began in December. The list of identified defects is particularly long. The low number of controllers, ineffective tracking system for illegal content or failure of warning messages for violent visual material. After buying Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk went on to mass layoffs that decimated the control groups, which is combined with his “ideas” on press freedom and rejection of all sorts of censorship.