EU’s Censorship Codes Are Coming for First Amendment

On July 1, the European Union’s flagship online censorship tool, the Digital Services Act (DSA), expanded its scope. The DSA has severe implications for free speech not just in Europe, but potentially across the whole world, and must be repealed. A few days later, Elon Musk added his voice to endorse its abolishment, raising the global stakes.

The act is a binding regulatory framework that gives the EU authority to enforce “content moderation” on platforms and search engines with over 45 million monthly users. It is one of the most dangerous censorship regimes of the digital age, enabling bureaucrats to control online speech at scale — both in Europe and globally — under the guise of “safety” and “protecting democracy.”

TO

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Thomas O’Reilly

Thomas O’Reilly is a researcher based in Brussels.

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On July 1, the European Union’s flagship online censorship tool, the Digital Services Act (DSA), expanded its scope. The DSA has severe implications for free speech not just in Europe, but potentially across the whole world, and must be repealed. A few days later, Elon Musk added his voice to endorse its abolishment, raising the global stakes.

The act is a binding regulatory framework that gives the EU authority to enforce “content moderation” on platforms and search engines with over 45 million monthly users. It is one of the most dangerous censorship regimes of the digital age, enabling bureaucrats to control online speech at scale — both in Europe and globally — under the guise of “safety” and “protecting democracy.”