Saturday, 26 September 2026 · Full edition

US backs Elon Musk's legal bid to overturn €120m EU fine on X

A portrait photograph of entrepreneur Elon Musk.
A portrait photograph of entrepreneur Elon Musk. · Tesla Owners Club Belgium / Wikimedia CommonsCC BY 2.0

What happened

The United States has backed Elon Musk in his legal challenge to overturn a €120 million fine imposed by the European Union against X. The EU issued the penalty after concluding that the platform deceives users by selling blue ticks without meaningfully verifying accounts.

Why it matters

The US intervention provides strategic support to X as it fights European penalties. Overturning the fine would eliminate a significant financial liability for X and challenge the EU's authority to enforce consumer deception rules on digital platform features.

Bigger picture

The dispute highlights deepening regulatory friction between European authorities and major American technology companies. US backing for X underscores potential cross-border policy clashes over tech regulation, platform governance, and international jurisdiction.

Watch next

Watch for official court filings regarding X's appeal, formal responses from EU regulatory bodies, and potential adjustments to X's verification policies.

Original source
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