The EU has issued a warning to X (formerly Twitter) regarding its blue checkmark verification system, stating it violates the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The European Union has issued a warning to X (formerly Twitter) regarding its blue checkmark verification system, stating it violates the Digital Services Act (DSA). According to the EU, the system is deceptive for people and violates established industry standards.
“Since anyone can subscribe to obtain such a “verified” status, it negatively affects users’ ability to make free and informed decisions about the authenticity of the accounts and the content they interact with,” the EU said in a press release.
Additionally, X has failed to meet transparency requirements related to advertising and data access for researchers, the commission added.
The EU highlighted that X’s verification system allows users to pay for verification, which can be exploited by malicious actors to deceive others. EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager criticised X for employing “dark patterns” that mislead users, lacking an adequate ad repository, and restricting data access for researchers.
“The DSA has transparency at its very core, and we are determined to ensure that all platforms, including X, comply with EU legislation,” she said.
If X does not address these issues, it could face significant fines, up to six percent of its global revenue. As a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the DSA, X must comply with these regulations to avoid penalties.
The European Union initiated a comprehensive investigation into X on December 18, 2023, under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The inquiry targets deceptive practices, advertising transparency, and data accessibility for researchers, as highlighted in the Commission’s recent findings. Additionally, the investigation examines the spread of illegal content and moderation practices, particularly post-Israel-Hamas war, with this segment still ongoing.
This scrutiny is part of the EU’s intensified enforcement of stringent regulations on major tech firms. Parallel DSA investigations are assessing Meta’s content moderation on Facebook and Instagram and the protection of minors on these platforms.
Initially launched under the Twitter Blue banner, blue ticks are part of a paid X Premium service. It was previously available for free to users after a verification process. While verification still applies, now, virtually anybody can get verified badge on Twitter if they can afford it.
Source:financialexpress.com