European Commission Launches Digital Services Act Investigation Against X (formerly Twitter) The European Commission has kicked off a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) against X. This probe covers various grounds, including risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers. Specifically focusing on dark patterns: 1. Information Manipulation Check: The Commission is looking into whether X's “Community Notes” system effectively combats information manipulation in the EU, especially in safeguarding civic discourse and electoral processes. 2. Transparency in Question: The investigation questions the transparency measures taken by X, highlighting potential shortcomings in providing researchers access to public data and concerns with X's ads repository. 3. Deceptive Design Alert: Suspicions about a deceptive design in X's user interface, particularly related to Blue checks on subscription products, are under scrutiny. This marks the first formal action by the Commission to enforce the DSA, a mere three years after its proposal, indicating a swift move towards ensuring online platforms operate responsibly. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving investigation.