EU says ‘ready to defend’ X fine after US seeks to join Musk appeal

The United States has intervened to prevent the European Union from imposing a €120 million ($136.51 million) fine on Elon Musk's social media company, X, which was formerly known as Twitter. The EU's decision to impose the fine stems from alleged breaches of online regulations, a move that has strained relations with Washington.

The US argues that the fines are inappropriate, as they seek to regulate American companies outside of the EU's jurisdiction. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division stated that the European Commission's attempt to expand its regulatory authority is an act of overreach, aiming to control American innovation and economic growth.

The US Department of Justice also noted that the fine violates the "corporate veil" principle, targeting not only X but also Musk himself and other companies he owns. The legal battle, which began in December 2025 after a two-year investigation, found that X failed to adequately address illegal and harmful content on the platform.

The case is part of a broader EU crackdown on Big Tech to regulate the industry and allow smaller companies to compete, offering more choices to European consumers. The EU's European Commission maintains that the case does not target any specific nationality, making the US argument regarding Article 40 of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the EU invalid.

The European Commission aims to defend its digital and democratic standards, setting benchmarks for the rest of the world.