International News
EU Cracks Down On Big Tech, Fines Elon Musk’s X €120m Under DSA
The European Union has slammed Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, with a €120 million fine for violating the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), marking a major escalation in Europe’s regulatory crackdown on Big Tech and raising fresh political tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The penalty, announced on Friday, follows a high-profile investigation into X’s compliance with EU transparency standards.
According to the European Commission, the platform breached multiple DSA rules, particularly in the way it redesigned and marketed its blue checkmark for paid “verified” accounts.
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EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasised that the sanction was strictly about ensuring transparency, countering claims from US Vice President JD Vance, who had earlier accused the bloc of targeting American companies under the guise of “censorship.”
“This decision is about the transparency of X and nothing to do with censorship,” Virkkunen stated.
The commission found that under Musk’s revamped system, “anyone can pay” to obtain a checkmark without any meaningful verification — exposing millions of users to impersonation and fraud.
The EU said the “deceptive design” of the verification badge misled users into believing accounts were authentic, making them vulnerable to scams and manipulation by malicious actors. X was also cited for inadequate transparency around advertising and for restricting researcher access to public data.
The fine risks further straining relations between Brussels and Washington. Before the penalty was even announced, Vice President Vance warned the EU against “attacking American companies over garbage”, a post Musk personally thanked him for.
The political undertone is unmistakable. With Trump returning to the White House earlier this year and Musk regaining influence after a temporary fallout US pressure on Europe’s regulatory efforts has intensified.
Washington has repeatedly criticised the DSA, and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently urged Brussels to reconsider the law if it hopes to ease steel tariffs.
A newly released US national security strategy went even further, urging Europe to “abandon its failed focus on regulatory suffocation.”
Despite possessing the legal power to fine up to six percent of global revenue — potentially including Musk’s wider empire like Tesla — the EU opted for a relatively moderate penalty.
Virkkunen said the amount was “proportionate” and aimed at enforcing compliance rather than punishing companies to the extreme.
Digital advocacy groups praised the decision. The Center for Countering Digital Hate said the fine sends a clear message that “no tech platform is above the laws all corporations must obey.”
France’s digital affairs minister Anne Le Henanff called it a “historic” moment, signalling Europe’s readiness to back its digital policies with firm action
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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