U.S. Justice Department Joins Elon Musk and X in Challenging EU Fine Over Digital Services Act
The U.S. government, through its Justice Department, has formally requested to join Elon Musk and X in their challenge against a €120 million fine imposed by the European Union. The fine, issued by Brussels on December 5, 2025, was the first penalty under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and was levied against X for alleged breaches of the law's transparency rules, specifically concerning its paid blue checkmark, advertising database, and limitations on researchers' access to public data. The U.S. application to intervene covers two cases before the General Court in Luxembourg, one brought by X Internet and X Holdings, and the other by Musk personally. The Justice Department argues that the European Commission inappropriately attempted to expand its regulatory authority to reach American companies not present or operating within its jurisdiction and objects to the Commission's decision to include Musk as a private person and other companies he owns in the fine calculation.
