If anyone expected Elon Musk, of all Big Tech owners, to shrug off a €120 million fine imposed on his platform X quietly, they were quickly proven wrong. The world’s richest man spent the weekend lashing out at the EU, saying it should be dissolved and agreeing with a fellow user on the platform that it amounted to the “Fourth Reich.”
Musk has never been one to hold back. From the infamous “pedo guy” comment that landed him in court on a defamation charge, to publicly supporting Germany’s far-right AfD, to a gesture at Donald Trump’s inauguration that many interpreted as a Hitler salute, Musk’s provocations have become almost routine. The days of the ‘ordinary’ billionaire willing to roll up his sleeves on The Big Bang Theory to lend a hand in a soup kitchen feel like a relic of another era. Now, it seems only a matter of time before his next public outburst eclipses the last.
What, me worry?
The latest flashpoint came when the European Commission fined X €120m under the Digital Services Act. The Commission said the platform had misused its blue checkmark verification, selling it to anyone without proper identity checks, which misled users and made impersonation easier.
On top of that, X failed to maintain a transparent advertising repository and blocked researchers from accessing public-interest data – obligations designed to ensure accountability and protect users across the EU. Regulators stressed that these rules are not arbitrary: they are meant to protect democracy, prevent misinformation, and maintain trust in online platforms.
Rubio hits back
US lawmakers reacted almost immediately. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blasted the fine – on X, naturally – calling it “an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments,” and adding, “The days of censoring Americans online are over.” For many in Washington, the penalty was another flashpoint in a long-standing tension between European regulators and American Big Tech, a sore point for the American president himself.
For Mr Musk, already known for flouting norms and amplifying outrage, it was another chance to push back. Yet calling for the dissolution of the EU so that countries could “regain” their sovereignty was going over the top.
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“This is part of the freedom of expression we cherish in the EU, which allows the most outrageous statements,” Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho noted, reminding critics that even Musk’s provocative rhetoric is legally protected.
Sound of one man clapping
Most did not take the gibes lightly. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski denounced Musk’s words as “reckless and dangerous,” warning that his comments had geopolitical consequences, especially after drawing support from none other than Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev. His comments struck a chord in Moscow, and the implications speak for themselves.
Europe will enforce its rules and hold Big Tech accountable. Musk and others may push back with words. Whether typed furiously or shouted out loud, the obligations under EU law stand — and they apply to everyone.
