The European Commission has set its sights on Elon Musk’s messaging service, Twitter, over alleged violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). According to preliminary findings, the company is suspected of breaching the law in areas such as dark patterns, transparency in advertising, and access to data for researchers.
The Commission has informed Twitter that it is not in compliance with the DSA’s requirements for verifying accounts, as the blue checkmark symbol, which was previously used to indicate verified accounts, is now available for purchase by any user. This has led to concerns that the platform is misleading users by suggesting that all accounts with the blue checkmark are verified.
Furthermore, the Commission has accused Twitter of lacking transparency in its advertising practices and not providing sufficient access to data for researchers. The company’s supposed failure to maintain a searchable and reliable database of all ads displayed on the platform for a year, as required by the DSA, has also been criticized.
Elon Musk has responded to the allegations, stating that the European Commission offered Twitter an illegal secret agreement to censor opinions in exchange for not being penalized. He also expressed his excitement for a very public legal battle before a court, so that the citizens of Europe can learn the truth.
The case against Twitter is still ongoing, and no final decision has been made. However, if the Commission’s findings are confirmed, the company could face significant fines, up to 6% of its global annual turnover. The current estimated turnover of Twitter is around $4.4 billion, although this figure may have changed since the company was taken private by Elon Musk in October 2022.
The Digital Services Act is a new EU law that aims to increase transparency and accountability among large online platforms like Twitter. The law requires these platforms to provide more information about their moderation practices and advertising revenue, as well as to maintain a searchable database of all ads displayed on the platform for a year.
The case against Twitter is part of a wider effort by the European Commission to enforce the DSA and protect the rights of EU citizens. Other companies that have been targeted by the Commission include Meta (Facebook and Instagram), AliExpress, and TikTok.
If you would like to stay informed about the latest news and developments in this case, you can follow heise online on Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter. We will provide updates and analysis as more information becomes available.