- The US government is seeking to join Elon Musk's legal challenge to overturn a €120m (£105m) EU fine against X over its blue tick badges.
- In December 2025, the European Commission fined X €120m, stating it 'deceives users' by allowing people to pay for a blue verified check mark, as it is not 'meaningfully verifying' who is behind the account.
- US Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate stated that the commission had 'inappropriately attempted' to expand its reach to American companies outside its control.
- European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed that the EU is 'ready to defend' its position in court, asserting it has a 'solid case' due to the alleged breach of its Digital Services Act.
- The EU fine against X was the first penalty issued under the bloc's digital regulations governing online content, with regulators stating that X's blue checkmarks broke the rules due to 'deceptive design practices' that could expose users to scams.
- Henna Virkkunen, the regulator's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, stated that the fine was due to X undermining users' rights and evading accountability.
- The US Department of Justice warned that if the fine is upheld, it 'may have significant implications' for U.S. online platforms and other companies providing digital services in the EU.
The U.S. government is intervening in support of Elon Musk's legal challenge against a €120 million fine imposed by the European Union on X, formerly Twitter. The fine, the first under the EU's Digital Services Act, was levied for allegedly deceptive design practices related to blue verification badges.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) argues that the European Commission has overstepped its jurisdiction, stating it is crucial to ensure that decisions affecting American companies are consistent with international law. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate emphasized that the commission's actions could have significant implications for U.S. digital services, warning against regulatory overreach.
In response, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier asserted that the EU is prepared to defend its position in court, claiming a solid case based on X's failure to provide transparency and accountability. The commission maintains that it is acting within its sovereign rights to protect its citizens.45
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the EU's actions, framing the fine as an attack on American tech platforms. He stated, "The days of censoring Americans online are over." The DOJ's involvement marks the second time in three months it has supported Musk's companies in legal matters, highlighting the growing tension between U.S. tech firms and European regulations.
“The Justice Department's intervention marks the second time in three months it has defended a Musk-owned company, and it warns the fine could have 'significant implications' for US digital platforms. EU regulators also accuse X of failing to provide ad transparency and denying researchers data access.”
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