EU Pauses Investigation into Elon Musk’s X Amid U.S. Trade Talks

The European Commission has temporarily halted one of its multiple probes into Elon Musk's social media platform X, prioritizing ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. The decision delays an expected conclusion on X's alleged transparency violations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) before the EU's summer recess.

U.S. tech giants have accused the EU of unfair targeting, arguing that bloc regulations infringe on free speech. Brussels maintains its stance, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asserting no changes to the rulebook despite pressure from Washington. Former U.S. President Donald TRUMP has criticized EU fines on American firms as "overseas extortion," even as recent penalties reached €700 million for Meta and Apple over antitrust breaches.

European lawmaker Anna Cavazzini emphasized the separation between X investigations and trade discussions, expecting the Commission to resume scrutiny post-negotiations. The pause reflects the EU's strategic balancing act between regulatory enforcement and transatlantic diplomacy.