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Social media platform X has proposed modifications to its blue checkmark verification system to European regulators following a €120 million fine for breaching digital platform rules.
A spokesperson for the European Commission, Thomas Regnier, said the company had submitted remedies concerning how the verification feature operates.
“X has submitted remedies in relation to its blue checkmark. The commission will now carefully assess the proposed remedies.”
He explained that the commission would now evaluate the proposed changes before deciding on the next steps.
Regnier said the submission followed discussions between regulators and the company, noting that the platform had responded to its regulatory obligations by presenting proposed adjustments to the verification system.
“We have to value the fact that after a constructive exchange with the company, the company has taken its obligation seriously and has submitted us remedies,” Regnier told reporters in Brussels.
The European Union imposed the fine in December after concluding that the platform’s blue checkmark design could mislead users. Authorities said the system violated provisions of the Digital Services Act aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability for large online platforms.
The blue checkmark was originally introduced on the platform to confirm the identities of notable users, such as journalists, politicians, and celebrities, to build trust among users.
However, after Elon Musk acquired the company, the platform began allowing users to obtain verification badges through paid subscriptions.
The company has also challenged the penalty, announcing in February that it had filed an appeal before the EU’s highest court. Despite the appeal, the European Commission said the fine must still be paid by Monday, while additional remedies related to other alleged breaches are expected by April 28.
The case stems from an investigation launched in December 2023. Regulators are still examining how the platform handles illegal content and the spread of manipulated information.
X has faced increasing scrutiny from the EU. In January, the bloc opened another investigation under the Digital Services Act into the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, following concerns over the creation of sexualised deepfake images involving women and minors.
