The “X” social networking site, owned by businessman Elon Musk, announced its agreement to make changes in the account verification mechanism within European Union countries. This decision came in response to a fine imposed by the European Commission on the platform last year, amounting to 120 million euros, according to Commission spokesman Thomas Rainier.
The European Commission had criticized the paid verification system that was implemented after Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, considering that it might mislead users and create an inaccurate perception that accounts bearing the verification mark have higher credibility, according to a report published by the Euro News channel.
The Commission also pointed out the difficulty of accessing an updated register of advertisers on the platform, whether for ordinary users or the competent authorities, which is particularly problematic during periods of electoral campaigns, when the source of information and allegations remains unknown.
The decision requires “X” to pay the aforementioned fine or provide an alternative financial guarantee. This measure sparked a heated debate between Brussels and Washington, as officials from the Donald Trump administration accused the European Union of exercising censorship on social media platforms.
