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X Adds Blue Checkmark Disclaimer to Address EU Antitrust Probe

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Elon Musk’s social media platform X has added a more prominent disclaimer to its blue checkmark feature, aiming to deflect a potential fine from European Union antitrust regulators, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The European Commission charged X in July 2023 with misleading users about the meaning of the blue checkmark. Traditionally, the badge indicated that an account belonged to a verified public figure. However, following Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022, the checkmark began to signify only that an account holder was a paid subscriber, not necessarily a verified identity.

Although X has not admitted any wrongdoing, it recently began displaying a more noticeable disclaimer clarifying the meaning of the blue checkmark. According to the source, this move is not part of any formal settlement proposal with the EU’s tech enforcement body but is seen as a voluntary step to demonstrate compliance. The new disclaimer has been in place for about a week.

The European Commission acknowledged X’s decision, with a spokesperson stating: “Our investigation related to the blue checkmark is ongoing.” X declined to comment when contacted.

The probe is being conducted under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that large online platforms take stronger action against illegal or harmful content or face penalties of up to 6% of their global annual revenue. The DSA also requires transparency in how online platforms present information to users.

Bloomberg first reported on X’s decision to highlight the disclaimer.

Microsoft’s Office-Teams Unbundling May Help Avoid EU Antitrust Fine

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Microsoft appears poised to avert a significant EU antitrust penalty as regulators are likely to accept its latest concessions regarding the bundling of Office and Teams, according to three sources familiar with the situation. This development follows sustained pressure from European competitors and comes amid growing transatlantic tensions over the EU’s scrutiny of American tech giants.

The case dates back to a 2020 complaint from Slack, owned by Salesforce, which accused Microsoft of gaining an unfair competitive edge by bundling its Teams app with its dominant Office productivity suite. German rival alfaview filed a similar complaint in 2023, intensifying the European Commission’s investigation.

In response, Microsoft unbundled Teams from Office in 2023, initially offering a 2-euro price reduction for Office without Teams and setting a 5-euro monthly price for Teams as a standalone product. After criticism from rivals that this pricing strategy was inadequate, Microsoft adjusted the terms again in February 2024 to widen the price gap and address antitrust concerns.

Sources indicate that Microsoft’s latest proposal also includes enhanced interoperability to allow rival platforms to better integrate with Microsoft’s ecosystem — a key demand from competitors seeking a level playing field.

The European Commission is expected to launch a market test in the coming months to gather feedback from industry stakeholders before issuing a final decision. While outcomes may still shift depending on this feedback, the current offer appears likely to satisfy EU regulators.

Despite having already paid over €2.2 billion in fines for bundling practices and other competition violations in the past, Microsoft has not commented publicly on the current negotiations.

This case unfolds against a backdrop of geopolitical friction, as former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened retaliatory tariffs on countries that impose penalties on American tech firms, adding a layer of diplomatic complexity to the EU’s enforcement actions.

European Retailers Urge Crackdown on Visa and Mastercard Fees

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Leading European retailers and e-commerce platforms have appealed to the European Commission to address what they describe as excessive and opaque fees imposed by Visa and Mastercard, alleging the charges undermine the EU’s competitiveness and hurt alternative payment systems.

In a letter dated May 13 and seen by Reuters, major industry groups such as EuroCommerce, Ecommerce Europe, and the European Digital Payments Industry Alliance — whose members include Aldi, Amazon, Carrefour, eBay, H&M, Ikea, and Marks & Spencer — asked EU regulators to intervene under antitrust rules. They claim Visa and Mastercard have increased their fees by nearly 34% between 2018 and 2022, with no corresponding improvements in service quality for merchants or consumers.

The retailers argue that the U.S. card giants dominate two-thirds of eurozone card payments and have created a complex, non-transparent fee system that hinders scrutiny or competition. The growing frustration over these practices has also revived interest in EU-backed alternatives like the digital euro, although progress on such initiatives remains slow.

Visa responded by defending its fee structure, saying it reflects high-value services such as fraud protection, operational reliability, and customer support. Mastercard did not issue a comment on the matter.

The letter was addressed to key EU officials, including antitrust chief Teresa Ribera, financial services commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque, and economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis. The signatories are calling for:

  • Regulatory action under EU antitrust laws,

  • Revised interchange fee rules with price caps,

  • Mandatory transparency and non-discrimination rules for card schemes, and

  • A monitoring tool for regulators to oversee card network practices.

This latest appeal intensifies pressure on Brussels to tackle U.S. dominance in the EU payments sector and promote more equitable digital financial infrastructure across the continent.