The European Union is preparing to impose one of the heaviest sanctions ever applied to a social platform: X, owned by Elon Musk, faces a fine exceeding 1 billion dollars for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
This is the new European regulation that imposes strict rules on content moderation, advertising transparency, and the fight against disinformation.
The accusations for the fine to X and the damages to Elon Musk: violation of the DSA and illegal content
According to the New York Times, the investigation by the European Commission – initiated in 2023 – aims to demonstrate that X did not comply with the legal obligations in managing user-generated content, allowing the uncontrolled spread of:
- Disinformation on a large scale
- Incitement to hatred
- Illegal and potentially dangerous content for democracy
A source close to the dossier stated:
“The goal is to make X a concrete example, to discourage other platforms from underestimating the responsibilities imposed by the DSA.”
In addition to the economic sanction, Brussels is reportedly preparing a series of requests for changes to the platform’s functionalities and policies, aimed at strengthening the control and moderation systems.
In the meantime, a second parallel investigation is also underway, of a broader scope, which could lead to further sanctions. Some EU officials are assessing whether X’s “non-interventionist” approach has turned the social platform into a hub of toxic content.
The Digital Services Act, which came into effect in 2023, is the EU regulation that imposes new responsibilities on large digital platforms.
The main areas regulated are:
- Timely removal of illegal content
- Obligation of transparency on algorithms
- Traceability of advertising advertisers
- Verification of potentially false or manipulative content
The DSA applies to all “Very Large Online Platforms” (VLOPs), meaning those with more than 45 million active users in the EU.
Geopolitics and USA–EU tensions: the political background
The EU initiative comes at a delicate geopolitical moment. Elon Musk is considered close to Donald Trump, who has just announced new tariffs against Europe.
According to some sources, the fine could be calibrated to send a strong signal without fueling further tensions with the United States.
“We apply our laws fairly and impartially towards all companies operating in our territory,” stated a spokesperson for the European Commission to the New York Times, without directly mentioning X.
In an official note published by X, the platform responded to the rumors with harsh tones:
“If the reports are accurate, this is an act of political censorship without precedent and an attack on freedom of speech in Europe.
We have done everything to comply with the DSA and will use every legal option to defend our business and our users.”
What will happen now?
The European authorities are still determining the exact amount of the fine, which could exceed one billion euros, but the door remains open to an agreement with X, provided that the platform accepts the requested changes.
The official decision is expected in the summer of 2025 and could represent a historic turning point in the application of digital regulation in Europe.
The affair between Elon Musk, the X platform, and the European Union exposes one of the central issues of our time: where does freedom of expression end and where does the responsibility of the platforms begin?
Whatever the final outcome, this will be a textbook case for the entire global digital ecosystem.