X axes European Commission’s ad account after €120M EU fine

The Commission fined X on Thursday for breaching the EU’s rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to limit the spread of illegal content. The breaches included a lack of transparency around X’s advertising library and the company’s decision to change its trademark blue checkmark from a means of verification to a “deceptive” paid feature.

“The irony of your announcement,” Bier said. “X believes everyone should have an equal voice on our platform. However, it seems you believe that the rules should not apply to your account.”

POLITICO has reached out to the European Commission for comment.

Trump administration has criticized the DSA and the Digital Markets Act, which prevent large online platforms, such as Google, Amazon and Meta, from overextending their online empires.

The White House has accused the rules of discriminating against U.S. companies, and the fine will likely amplify transatlantic trade tensions. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has already threatened to keep 50 percent tariffs on European exports of steel and aluminum unless the EU loosens its digital rules.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance blasted Brussels' action, describing the fine as a response for “not engaging in censorship” — a notion the Commission has dismissed.

“The DSA is having not to do with censorship,” said the EU's tech czar, Henna Virkkunen, told reporters on Thursday. “This decision is about the transparency of X.”