Media News Daily: Top Stories for 12/07/2025

EU Fines Elon Musk’s X €120 Million for Violating Digital Services Act

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has been fined €120 million by the European Commission for multiple breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), marking the first major enforcement action under the law. The platform was penalized for three main violations: issuing deceptive blue verification ticks (€45M), lack of transparency in advertising practices (€35M), and restricting researcher access to public data (€40M). These infractions relate to changes made after Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and its rebranding to X. The Commission emphasized the importance of accountability and user rights, stating that misleading features and data opacity cannot be tolerated in the EU. (Read More) – The Guardian Rating

New York Times Sues Perplexity AI for Copyright Infringement

The New York Times has filed a federal lawsuit against AI startup Perplexity, accusing it of republishing NYT content, such as videos, images, and podcasts, without permission. The suit targets both Perplexity’s core platform and its AI assistant, Comet, for allegedly presenting NYT’s original journalism in near-verbatim form. The Times is seeking damages and an injunction to remove its content from the company’s products. Perplexity is also facing a similar suit from Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal and other major outlets, amid growing industry scrutiny over generative AI’s use of proprietary news content. (Read More) – Reuters Rating

Vanity Fair Parts Ways with Olivia Nuzzi Following Book Release

Vanity Fair will end its relationship with journalist Olivia Nuzzi following the publication of her memoir American Canto, in which she claims to have had a romantic relationship with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The magazine reportedly decided not to renew her contract, which expires at year’s end. Kennedy denies the allegations. Nuzzi, a former reporter for The Daily Beast and New York Magazine, has faced criticism for ethical lapses related to her reporting methods and personal involvement. Her book has been widely criticized in media circles, with The Washington Post calling it an unsuccessful attempt to rehabilitate her reputation. (Read More) – The Hill Rating