X suspends the European Commission’s ad account after a €120 million DSA fine
The fine marks the first major enforcement under the EU’s Digital Services Act and signals how aggressively regulators plan to act.
X (formerly Twitter) has escalated tensions with the European Commission following a €120 million ($140 million) fine for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This enforcement marked the first time a company has been penalized under the DSA, which sets strict rules for how online platforms must handle illegal content, misinformation, and user data in the EU.
Elon Musk reacted to the news with his signature bluntness, posting simply, “Bullshit” on X. The situation then intensified when Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, accused the Commission of misusing its ad account to amplify the fine announcement.
Bier claimed that the European Commission had not used its ad account since 2021 but leveraged a post format reserved for ads, including a link designed to appear like a video, to boost reach artificially. In retaliation, X suspended the Commission’s ad account.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
While the move is dramatic, its practical impact appears limited. If the Commission has been inactive on its ad account since 2021, losing access likely won’t affect its operations.
X remains liable for the €120 million fine and must provide a detailed plan within 60 days explaining how it will prevent “deceptive” use of verified checkmarks, or risk additional penalties. The appeal process may give X some procedural recourse, but the company cannot avoid the fine or the compliance obligations in the meantime.
The DSA is the EU’s ambitious attempt to regulate digital platforms in a post-privacy and post-misinformation era. It targets major platforms like X, Meta, and Google, aiming to hold them accountable for the spread of harmful content and deceptive practices. X has faced growing scrutiny in Europe for its handling of misinformation, user verification, and advertising practices. The EU fine underscores the seriousness with which regulators are enforcing these rules.
The takeaway
Suspending the Commission’s ad account is more symbolic than strategic. The fine remains, the compliance deadlines remain and the legal obligations remain. Public pushback may generate attention, but it doesn't change the regulatory landscape in Europe. For global platforms, the message is clear: compliance is mandatory, and retaliation rarely shifts the outcome.
Emmanuel Umahi
