European Union says X/Twitter blue checks are misleading

LONDON — The European Union says Elon Musk’s blue X checkmarks are misleading and that the online platform falls short of transparency and accountability requirements in the first accusations against a technology company since the bloc’s new social media regulations came into force.

The European Commission on Friday outlined the preliminary findings of its investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, under the command of the 27-nation bloc. Digital Services Law.

The rulebook, also known as the DSA, is a comprehensive set of regulations that requires platforms to take more responsibility for protecting users and cleaning up their sites.

Regulators have targeted X’s blue checks, saying they constitute “dark standards” that are not in line with industry best practices and can be used by malicious actors to trick users.

After Musk purchased the site in 2022, he began issuing checkmarks to anyone who paid $8 a month for one. Before Musk’s takeover, they mirrored verification badges common on social media and were largely reserved for celebrities, politicians and other influential accounts.