US Seeks to Support X in €120M Fine Appeal

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday asked the EU’s General Court, the bloc’s second-highest court, to support Elon Musk and X against a €120 million ($136 million) fine, the first under the Digital Services Act. The Commission’s decision dates to December 2025. X, with EU headquarters in Ireland, appealed in February. In July the Commission accepted X’s remediation plan, including wider researcher access to data such as advertising information under independent audit, after X relabeled blue checkmarks from “verified” to “premium.” Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said, “The European Commission inappropriately attempted to expand its regulatory authority to reach American companies not present or operating within its jurisdiction,” and, “We will not tolerate the European Commission engaging in regulatory overreach to try and control American engines of innovation and economic growth.” Trump called the fine “censorship.” The State Department announced sanctions on five people. CONTESTED: The Commission said X misled users by selling verification badges without identity checks and failed advertising-transparency and researcher-access rules. Washington argues EU overreach and a free-speech threat; the EU rejects censorship claims. X argued due-process violations. The court has not ruled on the U.S. application or the appeal.