- Buterin warns rising anti-EU sentiment on X is coordinated and disproportionate

- He asks Musk to curb hate-driven amplification through existing algorithmic levers

- EU says its €120M action targets transparency issues, not speech or censorship

Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH ) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has got involved in the mounting debate surrounding the European Union's enforcement action against X, warning that the wave of criticism directed at Europe is intensifying in a way he described as disproportionate. His remarks arrive as officials in Brussels pursue a €120 million case against X for alleged transparency and verification failures under the bloc's Digital Services Act.

Buterin stated that commentary circulating on X in recent days has taken an aggressive form, including from individuals he typically considers informed. He noted that some arguments appeared to rely on exaggerated depictions of EU policy, drawing parallels to historical collapse or hostile incursions. He acknowledged that the region has regulatory issues, citing GDPR prompts, the proposed Chat Control initiative, and bureaucratic obstacles, but argued that the severity of language used on X did not align with his experience spending several months each year in Europe.

https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/1998368804687028266?s=20

In a follow-up post, Buterin expressed concern that the sentiment appeared more coordinated than spontaneous. He noted that the hostility extended beyond institutions to European cities, naming London as an example, and added that the trend risked undermining broader discussions about free expression.

Direct Appeal to Musk Over Platform Dynamics

Addressing Elon Musk directly, Buterin urged the X CEO to reduce the spread of hate-driven activity on the platform. He said the platform's influence over global conversations gives its leadership a role in preventing online hostility from shaping public attitudes toward democratic values.

After a user questioned whether he was advocating censorship, Buterin responded that he was referring to adjustments already made to X's ranking systems. He said Musk has shown willingness to alter the platform's algorithm to amplify or suppress content and argued that, within that existing framework, the platform could prioritize more constructive engagement without expanding its moderation scope.

EU Defends Enforcement as Compliance Requirement

The European Commission stated that the penalty aims to address three compliance failures: misleading verification practices associated with paid blue checkmarks, inadequate transparency regarding independent research, and insufficient disclosure of political advertising. Regulators stated that the case does not concern speech restrictions but rather data access and accountability obligations under EU law.

In parallel, Telegram founder Pavel Durov and Musk criticized EU rules as excessive, with Durov claiming the bloc deploys "impossible rules" to influence platform behavior without public scrutiny.