Elon Musk’s X Blocks European Commission From Running Ads After €120M DSA Fine

X Blocks European Commission From Advertising After €120 Million DSA Penalty

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has barred the European Commission from running advertisements, only days after the European Union fined the company €120 million for violating the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

Nikita Bier, a senior executive at X, accused the Commission of using a “system exploit” to promote posts about the penalty, claiming the EU attempted to bypass the platform’s advertising rules.

According to Bier, the Commission misused an infrequently active account to push ads that appeared as videos — a tactic he described as deceptive and against X’s policies. He announced that the Commission’s ad account had been terminated.

A European Commission spokesperson rejected the accusations, stating that it had “always used all social media platforms in good faith” and within the tools made available by the platforms themselves.

Blue Tick Controversy and the €120 Million Fine

The fine issued by the European Commission marked the first-ever DSA enforcement against a major tech company. Regulators ruled that X’s revamped blue tick system was deceptive because paid verification did not constitute meaningful identity confirmation.

According to the Commission:

• The system exposed users to impersonation scams

• It facilitated fraud, misinformation, and manipulation

• X failed to provide transparency in political advertising

• Researchers were not given required access to public-interest data

X has been given 60 days to respond or face further penalties.

Elon Musk reacted aggressively, declaring the EU “should be abolished” and amplifying posts comparing its actions to authoritarian governance.

US Officials Attack EU Over Enforcement

Prominent U.S. figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accused the EU of targeting American companies.

They claimed Europe was attempting to “censor Americans online,” signalling increasing geopolitical friction over digital governance.

X Accuses the Commission of Misusing a System ‘Exploit’

The current conflict began when X’s Nikita Bier accused the Commission of posting a link disguised as a video to increase visibility — a behaviour he said had “never been abused like this.”

He further stated that the exploit had now been patched and that X would not tolerate rule-breaking by any account, including government institutions.

The Commission responded that it had simply used the promotional tools provided and expected X to ensure they complied with its own terms and legal obligations.

Tensions With Regulators Not New for X

This is the latest in a series of clashes between X and global regulatory bodies:

• Brazil (2024): X agreed to pay a fine and block misinformation-linked accounts

• Australia (2023): The eSafety Commissioner penalised X for failing to cooperate in a child safety investigation

• EU (2023–25): X repeatedly warned for misinformation, extremist content, and declining moderation

The growing hostility between Brussels and Musk signals the beginning of a deeper regulatory battle as the EU enforces tougher rules on global tech giants.

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