Facebook Verified shows platforms recognise user appetite for verification and can offer it free of charge, but that it falls short of what users should be offered - underlining the need for Ofcom to set clear safety objectives and objective standards, including for how robust a scheme must be to pass the section 15(9) filter.

Clean Up The Internet welcomes the Commission’s decision to proceed with enforcement in the case of X, and to demonstrate that it is willing, as a last resort, to levy substantial fines. Ultimately regulations like the DSA and the UK’s OSA were enacted because of a recognition that we could not expect platforms to clean up their acts voluntarily. It would be naive now to expect the mere existence of the regulation to deliver change.

Clean Up The Internet has submitted a proposal to the EU's election integrity consultation, making the case for optional user verification.