Elon Musk’s social media platform X has agreed to modify its user verification system in the European Union following a €120 million fine imposed last year, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed. Bloomberg reported that the company has proposed solutions to address concerns over the blue checkmark, which verifies accounts on the platform.

The fine, levied in December, found that X’s paid verification system, introduced after Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, could mislead users by implying that verified accounts were more trustworthy. The European Commission also raised concerns that users and authorities lacked access to an updated advertiser registry, which could complicate transparency during elections and obscure the origins of online claims.

According to Thomas Regnier, the Commission spokesperson, the company must either pay the fine or provide a financial guarantee to comply with the Digital Services Act. The agreement to change the verification system is part of X’s efforts to meet regulatory requirements and avoid further penalties.

The European Commission’s decision prompted a diplomatic dispute between Brussels and Washington. Representatives of the Donald Trump administration criticised the move, framing it as a form of censorship targeting a major American social media company.

The European Union has increasingly scrutinised tech platforms to ensure compliance with rules on transparency, accountability, and user protection. The Digital Services Act, which came into force in 2024, aims to hold social media companies responsible for the content shared on their platforms and to provide regulators with access to key operational information, particularly during elections.

The blue checkmark system had become a central feature of X’s strategy under Musk, with users paying for verification status. While intended to signal authenticity, regulators said the program risked creating a false sense of reliability for paying users while leaving ordinary users and election authorities in the dark about advertising and messaging practices.

Euronews Next contacted X and the European Commission for comment but did not receive responses before publication.

Analysts say the case highlights the growing tension between European regulators and major US tech companies, which are increasingly expected to comply with stricter rules on digital platforms while balancing commercial strategies and user engagement. For X, implementing changes to the verification system will be key to operating smoothly in the EU market and avoiding additional fines or regulatory action.

The dispute also underscores the broader geopolitical dimensions of tech regulation, as enforcement actions in Europe can attract attention and criticism from US policymakers and companies, reflecting the global influence of digital platforms.

With the new adjustments to the blue checkmark system, X aims to address regulatory concerns while maintaining user trust in the European market.

A group of activists has begun a campaign calling for the creation of a publicly funded European social media platform, after the European Commission formally registered a European Citizens’ Initiative on the proposal.

The registration allows organisers to begin collecting signatures across the European Union in support of the idea. Under the rules governing such initiatives, campaigners must gather at least one million signatures from citizens in a minimum of seven EU member states.

The signature drive is expected to take up to 12 months once it begins. Campaign organisers have up to six months to prepare the process before collecting support, meaning the entire effort could extend over roughly 18 months.

If the campaign reaches the required threshold, the European Commission would be required to consider the proposal and decide whether to draft legislation supporting the project.

The initiative reflects growing debate in Europe about the influence of global social media companies. Most of the world’s largest platforms are operated by companies based in the United States or China, and European policymakers have repeatedly criticised them over data protection, content moderation and broader social impacts.

Calls for a European alternative have intensified in recent years. The discussion gained momentum after Elon Musk purchased the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2022. Since then, some European users have experimented with alternative platforms, although most have returned to larger networks because of their established user bases.

One example of a European-developed platform is Mastodon, which operates through a decentralised network of servers. Despite its presence in the market, it has not achieved the same level of global popularity as the largest social media services.

Supporters of the new proposal argue that a European platform funded by society could offer a different model. According to the initiative’s description, the network would operate as a service designed for the public and would be overseen by society rather than private owners.

Campaign organisers say such a platform could remain independent from political pressure while protecting the rights of users and promoting fair treatment for all participants.

Even if the initiative succeeds in gathering the required signatures, many practical questions remain. It is unclear whether the project would involve building an entirely new platform or supporting existing services. The timeline for development is also uncertain because any new legislation would still need to pass through the EU’s lawmaking process.

If approved, the project would likely require a procurement process before development begins. This step alone could take significant time.

The cost of the proposed platform is another key issue. Organisers estimate that developing and operating the network could cost about one euro per citizen each year. Across the European Union, that would amount to roughly €450 million annually.

They argue that such a contribution would represent a small expense for individual citizens while providing Europe with a digital platform designed specifically for public interests. Whether EU institutions and member states would agree to fund such a project remains an open question.