December 9, 2025
Keyboard war goes transatlantic
US International Trade Administration Shaped EU Censorship Against US Companies
EU slaps X with €120M as commenters brawl over “censorship” vs “just the rules”
TLDR: EU fined X €120M for refusing researcher data access under its online platform rules. Commenters split: some call it censorship and say the US helped build it; others say it’s just regulation and exposing falsehoods isn’t censorship. It matters because it tests who sets speech rules for global platforms.
The internet courtroom is in session: the EU fined Elon Musk’s X €120 million under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a new rulebook for big platforms, after X allegedly refused to open its data to “disinformation researchers.” Cue instant drama. One loud faction claims this isn’t just Europe flexing—it's a cross‑Atlantic machine, with the US helping design the playbook that now targets American companies. Another camp rolls its eyes: regulation is not censorship, and if you serve Europeans, you follow European rules—simple.
Users went full gladiator. vkou yelled “glass houses,” saying the US should look inward at its own censorship fights. navtoj snapped back that this is just compliance, dropping an NBC profile of the source’s founder to question bias. pogue mocked the outrage, arguing that pointing out falsehoods isn’t censorship—unless you wanted to spread those falsehoods.
The plot thickened with claims that 23 US‑funded groups could get access to X’s data and that US agencies teamed with the EU via a Trade and Technology Council. Commenters turned it into a meme war: “EU vs Elon steel cage match,” “free speech vs free reach,” and “researchers asking for the keys to the vault.” Meanwhile, the EU says fines could ramp up—up to 5% of daily global revenue—if X doesn’t comply within 60 days. Drama level: maximum.
Key Points
- •The European Commission announced a €120 million fine against X for non-compliance with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).
- •The article states the alleged non-compliance involves refusing to provide data access to disinformation researchers.
- •X has 60 days to submit a compliance plan; the EU can impose periodic penalties up to 5% of average daily worldwide turnover for ongoing non-compliance.
- •The article claims U.S. government entities (ITA and USTR) collaborated with the EU via the US-EU Trade and Technology Council to shape DSA provisions, including researcher data access.
- •It asserts that 23 U.S.-funded counter-disinformation organizations, with $15,444,695 in funding, are involved and may gain access to X’s data under the DSA.