Elon Musk’s Outrage Over EU Fine and Calls for Abolition
Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the European Union following a significant fine imposed on his social media platform. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, fined X approximately €120 million (around $140 million) for failing to meet transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act.
Musk took to X to express his frustration, stating that the EU should be abolished and that sovereignty should be returned to individual countries. He argued that this would allow governments to better represent their citizens. His comments sparked further debate, as he questioned how long it would take for the EU to disappear and described Europe as “sleep–walking into oblivion.”
The fine was issued due to several compliance issues, including deceptive design practices related to the blue verification checkmark, lack of transparency in advertising, and limited access to public data for researchers. These violations were found to be in breach of the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Musk continued to criticize the EU on Saturday, reposting calls to abolish the political union and make Europe “free” and “safe” again. He urged Europeans to withdraw from the EU to regain their sovereignty, emphasizing that he meant what he said and was not joking. Despite his criticism, Musk clarified that he loved the continent but not the bureaucratic structure of the EU.
US Officials Respond to the EU Fine
The Trump administration quickly responded to the EU’s fine against X. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, stated that the days of censoring Americans online were over. He claimed the fine was an attack not only on X but also on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.
Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, called the fine an “abomination,” describing it as an attack on a great American job creator and on the free speech of every American. He suggested that Trump should impose sanctions until the situation is reversed.
Vice President JD Vance had previously commented on the potential fine, expressing concerns about the EU supporting free speech rather than attacking American companies. He noted that the EU should not be targeting American platforms over minor issues.
X now has three months to inform the EU leadership of the specific measures it will take to address its various infringements. The European Commission emphasized that the fine was due to deceptive designs, lack of advertising transparency, and insufficient data access for researchers.
The commission is still investigating issues related to the dissemination of illegal content and the effectiveness of measures taken to combat information manipulation. It found that X was misleading users by selling verified checkmarks without meaningful verification, making it difficult for users to judge authenticity and increasing vulnerability to scams and impersonation.
Additionally, X’s ad repository failed to meet transparency standards, with users and researchers lacking critical information about ads, such as their content, topics, and who paid for them. The platform also restricted researchers from accessing public data, creating unnecessary barriers and undermining research into systemic risks in the EU.
X currently has around 102 million monthly users in the EU, according to its Digital Services Act transparency report filed in October. France has the most users at over 18 million, followed closely by Spain with around 17 million.
Musk has faced similar challenges in other countries, such as Brazil. Last year, the Brazilian Supreme Court shut down X nationwide after Musk refused to name a legal representative. The company also failed to comply with a court order to close profiles accused of spreading fake news before the platform was banned. X eventually met Brazil’s demands, and the platform was restored to over 200 million users.
Ongoing Tensions and Future Implications
As tensions between Musk and the EU continue to escalate, questions remain about the future of X in Europe and the broader implications for global tech regulation. The ongoing conflict highlights the challenges of balancing free speech, transparency, and regulatory compliance in the digital age. With the EU pushing for stricter oversight and Musk advocating for more freedom, the outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how tech companies operate in the region and beyond.