EU Warns X (Formerly Twitter) of Steep Fines, May Include Revenue from Musk’s Other Businesses Over Content Moderation Failures

In a bold move to enforce its strict content moderation laws, the European Union has warned X (formerly known as Twitter) that it could face heavy fines for failing to adhere to the Digital Services Act (DSA). What makes this warning particularly significant is the EU’s decision to potentially include revenue from Elon Musk’s other ventures—such as Tesla and SpaceX—when calculating these fines.

The EU's action follows growing concerns over the platform’s ability to manage harmful content, misinformation, and illegal activity. Under the DSA, social media companies are required to ensure that illegal content is removed promptly and that disinformation is curbed. X has faced criticism in recent months for lax moderation policies, especially following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform.

By broadening the scope of potential financial penalties, the EU is making it clear that compliance with content moderation laws is non-negotiable. Including Musk’s other businesses in the fine calculation sends a strong message: no matter the size or scope of the platform, failure to protect users from harmful content will have far-reaching financial consequences.

This development could lead to heightened scrutiny of other social media platforms as well, setting a precedent for holding tech leaders accountable across all their business interests if content moderation rules are ignored.