X plans verification changes in Europe after EU scrutiny
Synopsis
X verification system Europe is expected to change after EU regulators raised concerns over the platform’s paid blue checkmark model. The plan follows a €120 million penalty issued under the Digital Services Act, which regulates large online platforms and requires greater transparency in design and advertising systems.
X verification system Europe may be revised after EU regulators imposed a €120 million penalty under the Digital Services Act over concerns about verification design and platform transparency.
Key Highlights
- X verification system Europe may change following EU regulatory scrutiny under the Digital Services Act.
- The European Commission fined the platform €120 million in December 2025 for transparency violations.
- Regulators raised concerns that the paid blue checkmark badge could mislead users about account authenticity.
- The Digital Services Act regulates platforms with more than 45 million monthly EU users.
X plans to revise its verification system in Europe after regulators in the European Union (EU) raised concerns that the platform’s blue checkmark could mislead users about account authenticity.
The measures follows discussions between the company and EU authorities about how verification badges are assigned under the platform’s paid subscription model.
The news was first reported by Bloomberg.
The concerns are linked from the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping regulation that sets rules for how large online platforms manage transparency, risk, and user protections.
The EU regulators imposed a €120 million ($140 million) penalty on the platform over issues related to transparency and platform design, in December 2025.
Regulators question verification badge
EU investigators have focused in part on how the platform displays its blue verification badge. Because the symbol is now tied to a paid subscription rather than identity checks, regulators said users could interpret it as proof that an account’s identity has been verified.
Earlier versions of the verification system worked differently. Before the company’s ownership changed in 2022, blue checkmarks were generally granted to public figures, journalists, and organisations after their identities were confirmed.
The refocus on a subscription-based model has raised concerns about impersonation risks and the spread of misleading information.
Regulators have also examined the company’s advertising transparency practices and the availability of public data for independent researchers studying online harms.
Digital Services Act enforcement
The Digital Services Act, which began applying to the largest online platforms in 2024, covers services with more than 45 million monthly users in the European Union. Companies in this category are classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs).
Major platforms, including those operated by Meta and Instagram, along with TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Snapchat, are subject to the same regulatory framework.
Companies, under this law, can face penalties of up to 6% of global annual revenue for serious violations.
Growing oversight of social media platforms
The expected change to the verification system comes as governments around the world increase scrutiny of large social media companies. The regulatory authorities in the EU, the UK, and Australia have introduced new regulations aimed at improving transparency and strengthening user protections online.
X became privately held after Elon Musk acquired the company in 2022.
The EU regulators are now expected to evaluate whether any revisions to the verification system bring the platform into compliance with the Digital Services Act.
FAQs
Q1. What is the Anthropic AI joint venture being discussed?
Anthropic is reportedly discussing a joint venture with private equity firms to provide AI consulting and deployment services.
Q2. Which companies are involved in the Anthropic joint venture talks?
Private equity firms including Blackstone and Hellman & Friedman are part of the reported discussions.
Q3. How much is Anthropic valued at in 2026?
Anthropic raised $30 billion in funding in 2026, valuing the company at approximately $380 billion.
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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