ELON MUSK’s X fined €120 million over ‘deceptive’ blue ticks

Saturday, December 6, 2025 -Elon Musk’s social media platform X has been hit with a €120 million fine after regulators concluded the company misled users about its blue-tick verification system. European authorities found that X blurred the line between paid subscriptions and authentic identity verification, creating confusion about which accounts were genuinely vetted and which simply paid for increased visibility. 

Investigators said the platform’s design choices “intentionally obscured” the difference, allowing impersonation risks to rise and undermining transparency during a period of heightened concern about misinformation.

According to regulators, X failed to clearly communicate that purchasing a blue tick did not involve meaningful identity checks, despite the symbol’s longstanding association with authenticity. The result, they argued, was a misleading product that gave users a false sense of trust, particularly in political and health-related discussions. 

Officials also criticized X’s inconsistent labeling practices, saying the platform did not adequately distinguish between government accounts, media organizations, and ordinary users who paid for verification, creating an environment where false claims could spread more easily.

The penalty marks one of the largest regulatory actions against the company since Musk’s takeover, and it puts additional pressure on X as it struggles to regain advertiser confidence and stabilize its user base. 

European officials warned that future violations could lead to even harsher consequences, including platform restrictions under digital-services rules. X has signaled it will challenge the ruling, arguing the verification model is part of its effort to democratize online identity — but regulators say the platform must prioritize clarity and safety before profit.