EU Plans $1 Billion Fine Against Elon Musk’s X for Digital Services Act Violations

The European Union is poised to impose a significant penalty on Elon Musk's social media platform X, potentially exceeding $1 billion, for violations of the Digital Services Act. This enforcement action arises from investigations that revealed X's failures in content moderation, transparency about advertising, and user verification, which allegedly contributed to the spread of illegal content and disinformation. EU regulators are also considering including revenue from Musk's other ventures, like Tesla and SpaceX, in the fine calculation, which could amplify the penalty. X has publicly rejected these allegations, framing the EU's actions as politically motivated censorship and an infringement on free speech. While a settlement could be reached if X agrees to implement necessary changes, the situation reflects heightened tensions between the EU and the US, particularly given Musk's close ties to political figures in the US. The penalties are expected to be confirmed this summer as part of the EU's first serious enforcement under the new law.