U.S. criticises EU fine on social media company X as attack on American tech

The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply condemned the European Commission’s decision to fine American social media company X €120 million (approximately $140 million), calling it an assault on U.S. technology companies and their users.

Speaking on X, Rubio said the ruling was “not just against X, but against all American tech platforms,” adding that “the era of foreign governments restricting Americans online is over.”

The fine stems from X’s alleged breaches of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the first enforcement action under the law. EU regulators cited several issues, including misleading users through the design of the paid “blue checkmark” verification system, insufficient transparency in advertising practices, and limiting access to platform data for independent researchers.

The blue checkmark, which allows users to pay for verified status, was specifically flagged by the European Commission for potentially giving a false impression of credibility to paid subscribers.

X, acquired by Elon Musk in 2022, now faces mounting pressure to align its policies with EU regulations while continuing to operate globally. Rubio’s comments reflect U.S. concerns that European regulatory actions may set a precedent for increased oversight of American technology firms abroad.

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