American Vice President JD Vance has sharply criticised European Union regulators, accusing them of unjustly targeting US technology firms, according to Politico.
The comments come amid heightened anticipation of a substantial fine against the social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, for alleged breaches of the bloc’s stringent digital regulations.
In a post on X, Vance asserted that the EU should not be “attacking American companies over garbage.” He made reference to mounting speculation about a potential penalty.
“Rumors swirling that the EU commission will fine X hundreds of millions of dollars for not engaging in censorship. The EU should be supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage,” he wrote.
The platform’s owner, Elon Musk, promptly responded to the vice president’s show of support, commenting simply, “Much appreciated.”
The European Commission initiated formal proceedings against X under the Digital Services Act in December 2023. While preliminary findings from July 2024 accused the company of violating obligations related to transparency and its account verification system, a final decision in the probe remains pending.
A ruling could be imminent, potentially arriving as early as Friday. Under the EU’s regulatory framework, found violations can lead to fines of up to 6% of a company’s annual global turnover.
The United States has repeatedly urged the EU to reconsider its digital rulebook, with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recently explicitly linking the issue to ongoing negotiations over tariffs on steel and aluminum.
The pace of the EU’s enforcement actions has also drawn criticism from within Europe. Just last week, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly expressed concerns about the sluggish progress of investigations into major American tech companies.
When questioned about the potential for a diplomatic confrontation should a fine be levied against a US firm, the European Commission’s digital chief, Henna Virkkunen, projected resolve. Asked directly if she feared American retaliation, Virkkunen offered a succinct, one-word reply: “No.”
“I’m quite calm in different situations. I’m not surprised about anything. I’m protecting our laws,” Virkkunen stated.
