The growing transatlantic opposition to the European Union’s new online censorship law has urged free speech advocates, legal experts and members of the European Parliament to convene in the European Parliament on Wednesday, May 21.
According to an ADF International news release, Christian Legal Advocacy Group Alliance Freedom International will defend Freedom International, co-host entitled “The Threat to Digital Services Law and Freedom of Expression,” and will consider the “impact on Censorship” of the DSA.
Other hosts are French MEP Virgy Jolon, a Croatian member of the European Conservative and Reformed European Parliament, and a patriot group of European Groups.
DSA is a European Union regulation requiring large online platforms and search engines such as the US X and Meta, which moderates content, removes “illegal content” or faces serious financial penalties. However, critics raised concerns that the definitions of “misinformation” and “disinformation” are ambiguous and subjective, and could allow for censorship.
ADF International called the DSA “Deeply Flawed,” according to an April 17 article entitled “Unpacking the EU Digital Services Act.”
“It is based on the idea that ‘bad speech’ is best countered by censorship rather than robust arguments. Additionally, the DSA gives the European Commission a broader empowerment on how the platform handles speeches.
Legal Rights Group hopes Wednesday’s meeting will help promote opposition to legal regulations. Most of these regulations came into effect in February 2024.
“This Wednesday meeting was the first meeting in the European Parliament to focus on the threats to free speech raised by the DSA, providing specific answers on how to oppose them and discussing the fundamental importance of freedom of expression for social prosperity in its context,” ADF International said.
The Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Bureau, a division of the US State Department, expressed concern over the law in the X Post at the beginning of May, saying, “The State Department is deeply concerned about the efforts of the government to force American technology companies to target individuals for censorship. Freedom of expression must be protected.”
“There are many examples of this act that are both troublesome. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton threatened X to hold a political speech.”
The post cited examples such as Türkiye Fining Meta, which is intended to not limit protest-related content, and Australia, which calls for the removal of posts that criticized individuals for promoting gender ideology by X.
“Even when content can be offensive, censorship undermines democracy, suppresses political adversaries, and reduces public safety. The United States opposes efforts to undermine freedom of expression.
According to ADF International, experts are concerned that EU regulations could lead to the “lowest common denominator” approach to censorship. There, the most restrictive anti-speech laws across EU member states could be enforced across law-based regions.
Croatian MEP Stephen Bartulica, one of the speakers featured at the event’s host, said the momentum for the Digital Services Act was to “fastly build both inside and outside the European Parliament.”
He emphasized that concerns from the US, particularly those from the State Department and Congress members, “should not be ignored by the committee” the possibility of DSA censorship, saying that “the US is an important ally of Europe.”
“This event will be an important part of continuing to put pressure on the DSA,” says Bartulica. “Online censorship in Europe must be denied. I believe in freedom of speech, not regulated speech.”
Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF International and international human rights lawyer specializing in freedom of speech, will also speak at the event. In a press release, he described the Digital Services Act as “one of the most serious threats to online freedom of speech in the digital age.”
“The move towards censorship in Europe through this framework is deeply concerned and must be challenged,” Coleman said.
“We cannot accept the transatlantic division of free speech that encourages the United States to protect this fundamental freedom while Europe traverses it. Freedom of expression must be protected and supported around the world.”
France’s MEP Virginy Jolon, co-host and speaker at the event, warned that the Digital Services Act could be a “tool” for controlling online discourse “in a hopeless attempt to censor stories that go against their own narratives.”
“This reality is becoming more and more obvious to the world,” Joron said. “The new DSA regulations should not be allowed to become political weapons.”
She said, “This event has come at a critical moment and represents an important step in our efforts to resist the misuse of this regulation.”
ADF International believes Wednesday’s gathering will contribute to increasing pressure on the Digital Services Act.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee reportedly sent a letter to the European Commission expressing concerns about the regulations.
