Introduction
Elon Musk's social media company X has instituted a prominent disclaimer for its blue checkmark feature, aiming to avert potential fines from European Union antitrust regulators.Context
In July, the European Commission raised concerns that the blue checkmark no longer aligns with standard industry practices, noting that anyone can pay for a "verified" status. Traditionally, the blue checkmark signified that an account belonged to a verified public figure; however, since Musk's acquisition of X in 2022, it now indicates a paid subscription.Developments
Despite the changes, X has not acknowledged any wrongdoing. The recent display of the disclaimer, which began a week ago, is reportedly unrelated to any settlement proposals with the EU. A spokesperson for the Commission stated that they are actively monitoring X's announcement and that their investigation into the blue checkmark feature is still ongoing.X did not respond to a request for comment. The ongoing EU investigation falls under the Digital Services Act, which mandates large online platforms to enhance their efforts in combating illegal and harmful content, with the potential to incur fines up to 6% of their global annual revenue.