EU accepts X’s plan to resolve DSA transparency violations

The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it has accepted an action plan submitted by Elon Musk's X to comply with transparency obligations and researchers' access to data under the Digital Services Act, resolving a months-long dispute that began with a landmark fine against the platform.

From Fine to Compliance

The decision follows the Commission's December 2025 imposition of a €120 million fine on X — the first-ever non-compliance penalty under the DSA — for breaching transparency duties related to its blue checkmark verification system, its advertising repository, and researcher access to data. The Commission had found in July 2024 that X's paid verification feature deceived users by failing to align with industry standards, while the platform also obstructed public access to its ad library and blocked researchers from accessing its data.eucrim+2

Under the terms of the December fine, X was given 60 working days to explain how it would end the deceptive use of blue checkmarks and 90 working days to submit a full action plan addressing shortcomings in its ad repository and researcher access systems. X met its initial deadline in March 2026, submitting proposed remedies for its verification feature.euractiv+2

A Contested Process

The path to acceptance was not straightforward. The European Board for Digital Services, an advisory body composed of national regulators, was given an extended deadline — pushed to mid-June — to issue its opinion on X's compliance plan. The Commission ultimately accepted X's corrective measures on July 15, with the plan requiring independent audits and a six-month implementation period.mlex+3

The action plan commits X to comply with transparency obligations and provide researchers access to data under the DSA. The acceptance means X avoids further escalation that could have included additional fines of up to six percent of its global annual revenue.digital-strategy.europa+2

Broader Tensions

The resolution comes amid wider transatlantic friction over EU tech regulation. The Trump administration directed U.S. diplomats in August 2025 to lobby European governments against the DSA, arguing it curbs free speech and burdens American companies. The EU has continued enforcing the law, fining Temu PDD Holdings Inc. ↘ 1.43% €200 million in May 2026 for separate DSA violations. The Commission also opened a new investigation into X in January 2026 related to risk assessment and mitigation obligations, a separate proceeding that remains ongoing.eucrim+2