The European Union is taking aim at Elon Musk and his use of Twitter’s blue checkmark verification system. EU commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted his concerns about the blue checkmarks, stating that they deceive users and infringe upon the Digital Services Act (DSA) – the EU’s powerful law governing content moderation on social media platforms. If the EU’s preliminary findings are confirmed, Musk’s company could face fines and be forced to make significant changes.
Traditionally, blue checkmarks were given to accounts that were considered trustworthy sources of information or at risk of being impersonated. However, Musk changed this system by allowing any account that paid a monthly fee to receive a blue checkmark. This move led to months of confusion as paid accounts trolled corporate accounts and impersonated celebrities, including Musk himself.
Musk eventually added the option to hide the blue checkmark, indicating a lack of confidence in the system. He also personally paid for blue checkmarks on major accounts that no longer wanted the mark. This shift in perception has caused many Twitter users to view the blue checkmark as a mark of derision. In fact, there was even a campaign led by the popular account @dril to “block the blue.”
Musk’s actions regarding the blue checkmark system have not been received well by everyone. Thierry Breton and Musk have clashed before over the DSA, with the EU investigating whether X is in breach of the act for failing to counter illegal content, disinformation, and “deceptive design.” Musk reportedly threatened to remove the service from Europe but has not followed through. Europe represents nearly 10% of Twitter’s user base.
The debate over the blue checkmarks has sparked strong opinions on both sides. Paid-account blue checks, who tend to support Musk, have swarmed Breton’s replies with comments defending freedom of expression and even referencing guillotines. However, non-paid X replies further down the thread have shown more sympathy towards Breton’s concerns. As of now, the EU commission has the power to issue fines equal to 6% of a company’s worldwide turnover, although no such sanctions have been collected yet.
In conclusion, the European Union is challenging Elon Musk’s use of Twitter’s blue checkmark system. The EU believes that the current implementation of blue checkmarks deceives users and violates the Digital Services Act. Musk’s response to the criticism has been met with mixed reactions, with some Twitter users viewing the blue checkmark as a mark of derision. The clash between Musk and the EU over the DSA is ongoing, and the EU has the authority to issue significant fines if its concerns are validated.