X Corp.’s blue check verification system has come under fire for duping users and violating European law, according to regulators in Europe. The paid system, introduced by owner Elon Musk following the company’s acquisition in 2022, has raised concerns about its impact on users’ ability to discern the authenticity of accounts and content they engage with.
The European Commission stated that the Blue Checks, which were once seen as indicators of trustworthy sources, now appear to deceive users on the X platform. The Commission’s preliminary findings suggest that X’s paid verifications do not comply with the transparency requirements outlined in the Digital Services Act.
In addition to the issues with the blue check system, X has been accused of failing to provide a searchable database of ads and restricting researchers from accessing publicly available data. The company has the opportunity to challenge these preliminary findings, with Musk expressing readiness for a legal battle to bring clarity to the situation.
If found guilty, X could face fines amounting to 6% of its global revenue. Prior to Musk’s ownership, the platform, previously known as Twitter, granted blue check marks to users with significant followings who verified their identities. However, the introduction of the paid verification system led to instances of fake accounts receiving blue checks, highlighting the flaws in the new approach.
One notable case involved a Washington Post columnist impersonating Senator Ed Markey to obtain a blue verification checkmark for a fake account. Currently, users can access blue checks by subscribing to X Premium for $8 a month and meeting specific eligibility criteria to ensure their accounts are not misleading or deceptive.
As the regulatory scrutiny intensifies, X is set to navigate a challenging legal landscape to address the concerns raised by European authorities. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the platform’s operations and compliance with European regulations.
