(اBillionaire Elon Musk)

X Complies with European Pressure and Proposes Solutions to the Blue Checkmark Crisis

A spokesperson for the European Commission announced that the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has submitted remedial proposals regarding its account verification feature, the blue checkmark. 

This move follows a hefty fine of €120 million (approximately $137.63 million) imposed on the platform for violating EU digital regulations.

European Assessment of the New Proposals

Commission spokesperson Thomas Reiner explained that the Commission will now carefully evaluate the solutions proposed by the company, without disclosing specific details about the nature of these changes.

EU regulators imposed the fine on X last December for violating online content laws, in the first such action under landmark legislation that drew criticism from the US government at the time.

The “Blue Checkmark” Deception Under Scrutiny

The European move against X comes after a two-year investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major platforms to do more to combat illegal and harmful content.

The European Commission accused the platform in July 2024 of “deceiving users,” stating that the existing blue checkmark was inconsistent with industry practices, as it granted “verified” status to anyone for a fee, without actual identity verification.

A Shift in Verification Mechanism Within the EU

Bloomberg reported on Thursday that X had already agreed to change its verification mechanism within the European Union.

Previously, the blue checkmark indicated that an account belonged to a verified public figure. However, Elon Musk changed the system after acquiring the platform in 2022, making it proof of a paid subscription, a move European regulators deemed misleading to the public.