Elon Musk sharply attacked the European Union after the European Commission fined his social network X €120 million for violating transparency rules. He said that his response would not only be directed against the EU as an institution, but also against specific individuals who, according to him, are behind the sanctions, Politico reported.
„The EU imposed this crazy fine not only on [X], but even on me personally, which is even more absurd.‚ Musk wrote on the X network. „It therefore seems appropriate to focus our response not only on the EU, but also on the individuals who took this action against me.“
The Commission stated that the platform violated its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to very large online platforms. According to Brussels, the paid blue tick system on X is misleading because it no longer identifies verified accounts, but paying users. Other complaints relate to a non-transparent advertising database and insufficient availability of public data for researchers.
The Commission also noted that three entities stand behind X: X Holdings Companies, xAI, and Elon Musk. „at the very top“. According to the spokesperson, the fine is addressed to the entire corporate structure.
Musk responded with a sharp statement about „woke commissars from the EU Stasi“ and warned against the „Streisand effect“, whereby attempts to conceal or suppress information backfire on their originator. However, he did not specify what form his retaliation would take or who exactly it would affect.
The fine sparked strong criticism in Washington. Vice President JD Vance said the EU should support freedom of speech, not attack American companies. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said this was not just an attack on X, but on all American technology platforms. Deputy Minister Christopher Landau and Donald Trump's special envoy to the EU, Andrew Puzder, also added to the criticism, speaking of Brussels„ “regulatory overreach".
The decision increases tensions between the EU and Donald Trump's administration, which is threatening further tariffs if the EU continues to fine American technology giants. While the decision was generally welcomed in Europe, some politicians – including Dutch radical right-wing leader Geert Wilders – sided with the US.
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