Twitter has landed in another controversy after rolling out its paid Twitter Blue version without notifying the EU’s lead data protection watchdog despite previously saying that it would.
We’re…concerned this week now that we see that the blue tick subscription service is rolling out here in EU countries, having been reassured that it wasn’t going to roll out in the EU and certainly not before there have been discussions with our office.Data protection commissioner Helen Dixon
Twitter Blue is a new feature introduced by Musk after the takeover that lets users get the legacy blue tick in exchange for a small subscription fee.
The paid function defeated the entire purpose of having a verified blue tick.
Soon after the idea was first introduced, it invited widespread criticism.
It was originally created to help users identify the original accounts of public figures and celebrities amidst a crowd of fake and fan accounts, just like Instagram. But with this paid feature, anyone can get a verified tick, whether their account is legit or not.
Twitter Blue also comes with a few additional features, such as the ability to undo or edit tweets and post longer tweets ranging up to 4,000 characters. These features added to the growing public concern that Twitter Blue can be used by propagandists to push their reach and heavily influence public opinion.
Musk tried to wriggle out of this controversy by offering a bunch of other symbols and checkmarks to set apart business accounts and government accounts, and so far, it looks like a success.
Not only has Musk been able to relaunch Twitter Blue in the UK, Canada, USA, and New Zealand, but it has also expanded to Japan, India, Brazil, and more.
However, things are a little different back in the EU. While Twitter is legally not required to inform the EU data protection regulators, it’s the best way to go for controversial products such as Twitter Blue.
The whole thing was a well-planned campaign, and the team certainly knew that they were proceeding without the approval of the EU’s regulatory body.
Since Musk and his team seems to have gone back on their promise to notify the authorities, the entire launch and their approach are now viewed in a negative light.
Plus, unlike the first controversy surrounding the launch of Twitter Blue, Musk cannot wriggle out of this one because the launch in the EU has already expanded to over 27 countries, including France, Italy, and Romania.
It was clearly not an accidental leak and clearly not the first.
Another important factor to note here is Twitter only deals with the watchdog on cases of data protection because it claims to have a main establishment in Ireland.
That said, Twitter does need to prove that it also has a decision-making body with regard to EU users in Ireland.
If Twitter tries to push decisions made by its US headquarters in the EU without informing the lead data regulator, it’s not only undermining the authority of the organization but also opening up doors for a host of legal issues.
The organization is still in conversation with Twitter over the matter but has declined to give any further comment. For Twitter, after the dismissal of its entire PR team, it has been impossible to reach out to them for any comment.
