X concedes on initial EU demands
The social media platform X has submitted its first proposals to the EU Commission on how it intends to rectify violations of the Digital Services Act.
(Image: sdx15 / Shutterstock.com)
The social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is responding with proposals to a threat of penalties from the European Commission under the Digital Services Act. This was confirmed by an EU Commission spokesperson in Brussels at noon. After constructive discussions in recent weeks, the supervisory authority considers it a positive sign that X has now submitted proposals within the deadline.
Blue checkmark to be further revised
X International Unlimited Corporation, based in Ireland, was asked by the EU Commission in December to rectify several violations of the Digital Services Act, under threat of recurring penalty payments. The current proposals concern the awarding of the so-called "blue checkmark" symbol.
These were originally intended at Twitter exclusively for verified accounts; after the renaming to X, this symbol also became available to paying customers. Following criticism, X had already made changes to the awarding system. However, the EU Commission, as the DSA supervisory authority, still considers the current awarding system to be misleading and fears it could facilitate fraud. X has now submitted proposals for changes in this regard, about which no details are publicly known.
Videos by heise
The EU Commission will now analyze the proposals. Neither the operator nor the EU Commission or users benefit from enforcement penalties, says a spokesperson: "If it is not sufficient, we will constructively engage with X." For the other two accusations that led to the December penalty order, the deadlines are still running until April 28.
Deadline for 120 million fine expires Monday
In addition, the fine of 120 million euros must be paid to the EU Commission by next Monday. The operator had taken legal action against this fine of 120 million euros, imposed on X in December, at the European Court (EuG) in February (Case number T-114/26). The EuG is the lower of the two EU court instances responsible for administrative acts of the EU Commission.
The investigation proceedings into other possible DSA violations by the provider, such as in connection with the Grok AI, are continuing in parallel. The proceedings against X are considered politically particularly sensitive due to the ownership of the provider.
()
