Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our newsletter and gain access to exclusive insights, trends, and news from the world of business and leadership. Don’t miss out!
Musk lashes out at EU regulations after X is fined $140 million for online safety violations.
Tech billionaire criticizes European Union regulations as US officials and EU regulators clash over digital services oversight
Elon Musk has called for the abolition of the European Union after the bloc fined his social media platform, X, approximately $140 million for alleged breaches of online safety laws. Musk described the fine as “bulls–t” in posts on X and argued that sovereignty should be returned to individual nations so governments can better represent their citizens.
The fine, announced Friday by the European Commission, is the first under its sweeping new Digital Services Act, which targets disinformation, illegal content, and transparency failures by online platforms. The EU accused X of using a “deceptive” blue checkmark system, failing to provide transparency around advertising, and restricting researchers’ access to public data.
Paula Pinho, chief spokesperson for the European Commission, stressed that the fine was based on non-compliance with law, not ideology. “If there is compliance, there is no fine,” she said, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to freedom of speech, which includes the right to voice criticism.
US officials swiftly responded, framing the EU action as an overreach targeting American innovation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the fine “an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments,” while US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder described it as the result of regulatory overreach. Former Vice President JD Vance also voiced support for Musk, asserting that the EU should promote free speech rather than penalize American companies.
The dispute stems from Musk’s overhaul of the blue checkmark system, which initially verified public figures and celebrities. Under Musk, anyone who purchases a premium subscription can display a blue checkmark, a change the EU warned could expose users to scams and impersonation fraud. X now has 60 days to submit a plan to address blue checkmark concerns and 90 days to fix issues with its ad repository and researcher access. Non-compliance could result in periodic fines.
Musk, whose net worth exceeds half a trillion dollars according to Forbes, has the option to appeal the ruling, though legal experts note this could trigger a lengthy court battle.
The fine and Musk’s subsequent calls for the EU’s dissolution highlight ongoing tensions between American tech giants and European regulators over digital platform governance, transparency, and user safety, signaling a high-stakes clash over the future of online regulation.
A $1.5 billion tariff hit and sharp weakness in Greater China overshadow solid North America growth,
Hedge fund billionaire looks to Warren Buffett’s playbook as he reshapes a real estate giant into
Billionaire hedge fund founder backs U.S. Treasury initiative to provide investment accounts for children, aiming to
The largest U.S. IPO of 2025 signals renewed investor confidence and sets the stage for a
As Meta pours billions into artificial intelligence, tensions rise between visionary ambition and suffocating control—revealing cracks
