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🚨EU Slaps €120M Fine on Social Media Platform Under DSA

EU's €120M Fine on Social Media Platform

TL;DR

The European Commission fined a social media platform €120M under the Digital Services Act for transparency breaches. The US government is intervening to challenge the decision.

The European Commission has slapped a €120 million fine on a major social media platform under the Digital Services Act (DSA) for violating transparency rules. The platform's owner, who called the decision 'crazy' and 'insane', faces a legal battle with the US government supporting their challenge. This fine highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny of social media platforms' practices, especially around verification processes and researcher access to public data. The €120 million penalty is based on the worldwide turnover of the platform's corporate group, setting a precedent for future fines. The US government's intervention underscores the potential broader impacts on American-owned digital platforms operating in the EU.

EU Slaps €120M Fine on Social Media Platform Under DSA — theregister

Key Points

1

The €120 million fine was issued under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in December 2025.

2

Platform's paid blue checkmarks, advertising repository, and researcher access were found to breach transparency rules.

3

US government has applied to intervene, supporting attempts to annul the Commission's decision.

4

Justice Department has 'significant concerns' about the Commission's determination of liability.

5

The €120 million penalty and legal theory remain subjects of challenges before the General Court.

Why It Matters

If you're a social media platform operating in the EU, this fine sets a precedent for transparency and regulatory compliance. The worldwide turnover calculation for fines could impact your financial planning. The US government's intervention highlights the transatlantic legal battles to come for digital platforms.

EUDSAsocial mediaregulationlegal

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