CITIZENS NEWS

U.S. State Department slams EU's Digital Services Act as "Orwellian censorship"

By kevinhughes // 2025-07-27

• The U.S. State Department sharply criticized the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), accusing it of stifling free speech and dissent under the guise of combating disinformation and harmful content.
• Washington alleges the DSA is being used to silence opposition, citing examples like Germany's AfD party, and claims European leaders are shielding themselves from public criticism.
• France's probe into Elon Musk's X platform and the detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, the latter accused of enabling criminal content, further fueled accusations of politically motivated censorship.
• Senior U.S. officials, including FCC Chair Brendan Carr and VP J.D. Vance, have condemned the DSA as a threat to free speech. The U.S. has imposed visa restrictions on foreign officials involved in online censorship.
• The dispute highlights the clash between the EU's push for stricter digital governance and the U.S.'s emphasis on free expression, raising questions about the future of global internet regulation and democratic freedoms.

In a scathing rebuke, the U.S. Department of State has accused the European Union of engaging in "Orwellian censorship" through its implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) – escalating tensions over online speech and freedom of expression. The criticism, which echoes earlier condemnations from high-ranking U.S. officials, underscores the growing divide between the U.S. and the EU on the regulation of digital platforms. The State Department's remarks, posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday, July 22, came in response to France's recent praise for the DSA. The EU law, which came into effect in 2022, mandates the removal of "illegal and harmful" content and aims to combat disinformation. However, U.S. officials argue that the legislation is being used to silence dissenting voices and target popular right-wing parties, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. (Related: EU pushing through with enforcement of censorship tool Digital Services Act) "In Europe, thousands are being convicted for the crime of criticizing their own governments," the State Department wrote. "This Orwellian message won't fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom." The statement further asserted that "all the DSA protects is European leaders from their own people." Washington's criticism follows recent actions by French authorities that have drawn international scrutiny. Earlier this month, Paris launched an investigation into Elon Musk's platform X, alleging it was used to interfere in French politics and spread hateful messages. The company dismissed the probe as politically motivated. The DSA, which came into force in 2022, has faced backlash from both sides of the Atlantic. Critics, including prominent American social media companies like Meta and X, have likened the regulations to the creation of a "ministry of truth," suggesting that they impose excessive control over online content. The controversy has been further fueled by legal actions against tech entrepreneurs. In 2024, French authorities detained Russian-born tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, on charges of allowing his platform to be used for criminal activities. Durov, who was later released on bail, vehemently denied the allegations and accused France of waging "a crusade" against free speech. He claimed that French intelligence officials had attempted to pressure him into censoring content during Romania's 2024 presidential election. The DGSE, France's foreign intelligence agency, confirmed it had "reminded" Durov of his responsibilities. However, it denied allegations of election interference.

Trump administration pushing back against EU censorship

The State Department's comments are part of a broader Trump administration strategy to push back against EU content moderation rules. In March, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr warned that the DSA threatens free speech. Similarly, Vice President J.D. Vance lambasted European governments at the Munich Security Conference in February. He criticized what he called "the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values." In May, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials involved in censoring online content, specifically singling out Latin America and Europe. This move underscores the US government's commitment to challenging what it perceives as attempts to stifle free expression. The clash between Washington and Brussels over the DSA highlights the challenges of creating a global framework for digital regulation. While the EU argues that the DSA is necessary to protect citizens from harmful content and disinformation, the U.S. contends that it infringes on fundamental freedoms. Follow Censorship.news for more news about the censorship of online speech in Europe. Watch this video about Telegram CEO Pavel Durov being arrested by French authorities. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EU enforces mandatory 'disinformation' crackdown under Digital Services Act, instituting CENSORSHIP AUTHORITARIANISM on a global scale. EU funnels $736M into online censorship under the guise of fighting "hate speech" and "disinformation". EU takes aim at Elon Musk's X with potential $1 billion fine under Digital Services Act. Sources include: RT.com Politico.com EuropeanConservative.com

Elon Musk free speech censorship European Union France freedom tyranny Marco Rubio Europe Hate speech big government banned Latin America Orwellian suppressed disinfo obey department of state liberty meta Pavel Durov Brendan Carr Digital Services Act JD Vance DGSE X