Jordan Targets EU Laws He Claims Censor Speech Globally

U.S. Lawmaker Leads Delegation Abroad to Challenge Digital Regulations

Chairman Jim Jordan is extending his campaign against alleged online censorship to Europe, aiming to address regulations he contends stifle free expression for conservatives worldwide.

European Regulations Under Scrutiny

Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, is heading a bipartisan congressional group meeting with European Union officials, including Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen. Their discussions focus on tech policies perceived to be silencing individuals and companies.

A recent interim report from Jordan‘s committee asserts that the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), enacted in 2022, functions as a global censorship tool that jeopardizes American free speech principles.

The DSA mandates that large online platforms take more robust action against illegal content and misinformation, with significant penalties for non-compliance. EU officials maintain the law is essential for user protection.

“Our concern is how the Digital Services Act is actually going to impact speech and the First Amendment in our country as well,”

—Jim Jordan, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee

Jordan indicated that these concerns could become a point of discussion in trade negotiations with European nations.

Concerns Over Global Impact

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin expressed worries that substantial fines under EU rules could deter American companies from operating in Europe.

“At the end of the day, America is the innovator,” stated Fitzgerald. “Europe is simply coming up with new regulations to regulate the innovators. It makes no sense to me at all.”

The congressional group is also visiting Ireland and the United Kingdom to examine similar legislation, such as the UK’s Online Safety Act, which Jordan characterized as akin to the DSA.

The committee’s report, based on subpoenaed documents from a workshop with EU Commission staff and tech firms, alleges that European regulators target political discourse on topics like immigration and the environment.

The report claims this censorship is “largely one-sided, almost uniformly targeting political conservatives.” It further warns that European demands could influence global content moderation policies, affecting what Americans see and say online.

The threatened content categories include humor, satire, and core political speech—elements protected by the U.S. First Amendment.

“Overzealous European bureaucrats, empowered by the DSA to impose global censorship standards, pose a serious risk to the freedom of speech in the United States,” the report concludes.

Previous Oversight Efforts

Since assuming leadership of the Judiciary Committee, Jordan has actively investigated tech platforms’ content policies. He has summoned executives from major companies to address allegations of suppressing right-leaning viewpoints.

Jordan has previously focused on domestic issues, including COVID-19 information and the 2020 election, alleging coordination between federal agencies and social media companies to censor conservative content. These claims have been disputed by the platforms.

In 2023, the EU’s DSA led to a record €1.2 billion fine for Meta for failing to comply with data privacy rules related to its advertising system, highlighting the significant regulatory power of the bloc (Source: Reuters, December 2023).