Statement from CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed, in response to EU’s $140M fine on X for transparency issues

Imran Ahmed, CEO & Founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate: “Today’s decision by the European Commission sent a message that no tech platform is above the laws all corporations have to abide by in Europe. X tried to evade transparency rules designed to permit democratic accountability by shutting off data access for researchers, degrading its ads library, and corrupting its blue tick feature in ways that confused users and empowered scammers and hostile actors. Researchers must be free to study how powerful platforms shape our information environment. X has tried to hide how it manipulates the algorithm and empowers hostile states, scammers and extremists. Now, European regulators have confirmed that this behavior is unlawful, and that transparency is not optional if X wishes to continue doing business in Europe.”