One of the reasons Twitter’s blue checkmark was so coveted among users was because of what it meant: that you or your organization were recognized as legit. This protected you from someone impersonating you or your organization on the platform. However, Elon Musk changed this by turning the blue checkmark simply into a way to show that you pay for a premium plan. Now, following a fine Europe levied against X in December 2025, the company has put forward remedies that could change its verification system.
X to change verification system in Europe
For those who are unaware of how X’s verification system works, basically you pay to get the blue checkmark. It’s part of the company’s “Premium” subscription. Not only do you get a blue checkmark, but you also get access to additional features that free users don’t have.
It’s not uncommon for services to lock additional features behind a paywall. It’s good business sense. However, in this case, regulators in the EU took offense to the X verification system and demanded changes as they claimed the system was deceptive. It had the potential to mislead users who might assume that accounts with the blue checkmark are trustworthy, when all you need to do is pay $8 a month.
Regulators then asked X to suggest solutions to fix this issue. The company had until March 12; otherwise, it would face additional penalties.
X has since submitted their proposed remedies. European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed this was the case and they would assess them. However, he stopped short of providing details on what those proposed remedies are.
US unhappy about EU’s fine
If you think about it, the EU’s issue with X’s blue checkmark system makes sense. For $8 a month, it seems awfully cheap to become a “verified” user. X seemed to be banking on Twitter’s blue checkmark legacy to make the subscription appealing. So, users assuming that the blue checkmark under X meant the same thing as when it was under Twitter might end up getting tricked.
That said, not everyone thinks X has a problem. When the EU levied the fine against X, it sparked strong reactions from the US. This included FCC Chair Brendan Carr accusing the EU of targeting a “successful US tech company.” Even US Vice President JD Vance echoed those sentiments, saying, “The EU should be supporting free speech, not attacking American companies over garbage.”
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