Brussels responds to US critique: X sanction unrelated to censorship

The European Commission has responded to criticism from US Vice President J.D. Vance, emphasizing that the €120 million fine imposed on platform X for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA) “is not related to censorship.”

Speaking at a briefing in Brussels, a European Commission representative Thomas Regnier explained that the penalty pertains specifically to transparency issues, including the misleading use of the “blue checkmark,” the absence of an open advertising repository, and the platform’s failure to provide data for research purposes. Regnier stressed that the fine is unrelated to content moderation and does not restrict freedom of speech, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinheiro further highlighted the Commission’s stance, stating, “The European Commission has expressed disagreement with how some people in the US interpret our legislation. Our legislation is not related to censorship, and we have repeatedly emphasized this from this podium.”

The remarks come after Vice President J.D. Vance criticized the EU, asserting that “the EU should support freedom of speech, not attack American companies over nonsense.”

The European Union’s decision to impose a €120 million fine on Elon Musk’s social media platform X marks a pivotal escalation in the ongoing battle over online content regulation. Announced on December 5, 2025, this penalty is the first under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping law aimed at curbing misinformation, hate speech, and opaque advertising practices on large online platforms. The European Commission accused X of misleading users through its blue-check verification system, failing to provide adequate data access to researchers, and lacking transparency in ad labeling. Yet, beneath these technical violations lies a deeper rift: a clash between Europe’s regulatory zeal and America’s staunch defence of free speech.

The Commission’s action follows months of investigations and warnings, culminating in a penalty that equates to roughly $140 million in US dollars. As reported, the EU highlighted issues like the blue ticks misleadingly suggesting account authenticity, which they argue deceives users and enables disinformation.

By Vafa Guliyeva