The United States government has asked to join Elon Musk and X in challenging a €120 million (£105 million) fine imposed by the European Union over the platform’s use of blue verification badges.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an application with the EU’s General Court, arguing that Washington has a direct interest in the outcome of the case.
The European Commission imposed the penalty in December 2025 after finding that X’s blue-check system could mislead users because the badges do not reliably verify the identities behind accounts.
EU regulators also accused X of failing to provide adequate transparency over advertising and restricting researchers’ access to public data.
US Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the European Commission had improperly attempted to extend its regulatory authority to US companies operating outside its jurisdiction.
The DOJ argued that the US has an interest in ensuring EU decisions respect principles of territorial jurisdiction under international law and do not adversely affect major US-based digital companies.
The application is part of X and Musk’s broader effort to have the EU penalty overturned.
The European Commission has defended its decision, with spokesperson Thomas Regnier saying the bloc was prepared to argue its case before the court.
The dispute has also drawn criticism from senior US officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the EU of targeting American technology companies, while Federal Communications Commission officials have also criticised the bloc’s approach to regulating US firms.
Musk, who has previously criticised EU technology regulations, endorsed Rubio’s comments on X.
The case highlights growing tensions between Washington and Brussels over how technology companies headquartered in the United States should be regulated in Europe.
