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Blue checks on X deceiving users into engaging with harmful material, EU says

Social media platform owned by Elon Musk faces fines of up to 6% of turnover if initial European Commission view is confirmed

Elon Musk ’s social media platform X has been hit with a warning from the European Union for deceiving users into engaging with potentially harmful content, in the latest show of force by Brussels against Big Tech’s practices. Before Mr Musk’s acquisition, the ticks mirrored verification badges common on social media and were largely reserved for celebrities, politicians and other influential accounts. Last year a number of high-profile public figures distanced themselves from verification on X, then Twitter, after the platform announced legacy blue ticks would be removed, leaving only those who opted to pay.

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