Twitter’s lead EU regulator expresses concern over new blue check mark subscription
On Tuesday, the lead European Union privacy regulator of social media giant Twitter voiced out a concern. The privacy regulator stated that the Elon Musk-owned U.S. firm had launched its Twitter Blue subscription service in the region without consulting her office, despite a pledge to do so.
Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In recent days, it has launched the service in several EU markets. Previously free for verified accounts of public figures, this offers the kind of blue check mark to anyone prepared to pay. It was launched last year in the United States.
Helen Dixon, Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner and Twitter’s lead EU regulator due to the location of its European headquarters in Dublin, said that the service raised privacy issues including around verification of accounts to prevent users from posing as public figures. In an interview, Helen stated,
“We’re a little bit more 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.”
No formal inquiry has been launched, however, “we’re at a heightened state of contact with Twitter,” she said. Helen described the consultation prior to a product launch as “best practice.”
In November, Helen expressed concern about the impact of steep job cuts on Twitter’s ability to meet privacy obligations. This follows Elon’s takeover the previous month.
Today, Twitter has a “very strong” data protection officer, Helen claimed. She added, “But beyond the data protection office, there are clearly other forces at play. And we need to understand a little bit more about those.”
Just recently, the New York Times reports that the tech giant had cut 10% of its current workforce. Estimation states at least 2,000 people. This falls as the latest round of job losses at Twitter. The report was since newly-seated chief executive Elon Musk got rid of about 50% of its 7,500 employees when he took over in October.
