X has barred the European Commission from placing adverts on its platform, days after the regulator fined the site €120 million under the EU Digital Services Act. The block prevents the Commission from using X’s ad platform to promote its policies or public notices.

The move was announced by Nikita Bier, senior official at X, who claimed the Commission was “taking advantage of an exploit” in the platform’s advertising system to boost its post about the fine. “It seems you believe that the rules should not apply to your account,” Bier said, adding “Your ad account has been terminated.”

A European Commission spokesperson told BBC News the body “always uses all social media platforms in good faith” and that it was simply employing tools made available to corporate accounts. The spokesperson insisted the tools must conform to the platform’s own terms and the EU legislative framework.

The fine, imposed on Friday, is the first ever under the Digital Services Act and targets X’s blue‑tick verification system, which the regulator described as “deceptive” because the company does not meaningfully verify users. The EU said the practice exposes users to scams, impersonation fraud and other manipulation by malicious actors.

X has been given sixty days to respond to the Commission’s concerns over its verification badges, advertising transparency and researcher access to public data, or face additional penalties. Failure to comply could see further fines that would add pressure on the platform’s global operations.

Elon Musk reacted on X, calling for the EU “to be abolished,” and retweeted a comment likening the regulator to fascism. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the FCC, slammed the EU’s actions as censorship of American firms, stating “the days of censoring Americans online are over.”

For Ghanaian businesses that rely on X for digital marketing, the dispute raises uncertainty. Ghana’s advertising agencies warn that any restrictions on EU‑targeted campaigns could ripple into higher costs for local firms that run cross‑border ads. The National Communications Authority is monitoring the situation, reminding advertisers to diversify their social media strategies.

The episode follows previous clashes with regulators in Brazil and Australia, illustrating the growing tension between X and governments worldwide over content moderation, verification and advertising rules. The outcome will be watched closely by Ghanaian regulators and marketers alike.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE