The US government has asked to join legal proceedings supporting Elon Musk and his social media platform X in their challenges against a €120 million fine imposed by the European Commission.
The Justice Department submitted its request Thursday to the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. It is seeking to participate in two cases brought by X and Musk against the Commission’s December 2025 decision over alleged violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act.
The court will determine whether the US can intervene. Under EU rules, governments may participate in cases when they can demonstrate a legal interest in the outcome.
The Justice Department argued that the European Commission had gone beyond its regulatory authority by applying its rules to US companies. It also said the Commission’s approach could have wider implications for other American technology firms operating in Europe.
US officials further challenged the Commission’s decision to treat Musk and companies under his control as one economic entity when determining liability.
The legal dispute follows a €120 million penalty imposed on X in December. The European Commission said the platform had violated three transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act.
According to the Commission, X’s blue checkmark system could mislead users because people could purchase verified status without adequate identity verification. It also said the platform’s advertising database did not provide enough information about advertisements and their sponsors.
The EU further accused X of creating unnecessary obstacles for qualified researchers seeking access to public data to examine potential systemic risks.
The fine was the first non-compliance penalty issued under the Digital Services Act, which became broadly applicable in February 2024. The legislation allows the Commission to investigate major online platforms and impose penalties of up to 6% of their worldwide annual revenue for violations.
The dispute comes amid wider disagreements between Washington and Brussels over EU regulations governing major technology companies, many of which are based in the United States.
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