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This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by Belga.

European Commission: blue checkmark of social networking site X “misleads” users

by AI | 13.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The social network X “misleads” its users with the blue checkmark that is supposed to guarantee that accounts are verified. This is the provisional conclusion of the European Commission. Elon Musk’s company risks heavy fines.

The Commission increases the pressure on the social networking site X (Photo: Monika Skolimowska/dpa)

It is the first time that the Commission has reached the preliminary conclusion that a major online platform is violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), the new law that came into force last year and forces large platforms to take measures to protect users against, among other things, dark patterns, illegal content, and manipulated information.

In addition to the reliability of the blue checkmark, the Commission notes two other points of objection. For instance, X does not meet the required transparency in advertising as it lacks a reliable advertising registry. Finally, the Commission also states that X does not provide researchers with sufficient access to its public data.

X now has the opportunity to review the investigation and respond in writing. If the Commission nevertheless concludes definitively that X is violating the DSA, the company risks fines of up to 6 percent of global turnover. The Commission can also impose penalties to force a platform to make adjustments.