Today, the House Judiciary Committee Republicans unveiled an interim staff report addressing concerns over the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA). The report, titled "The Foreign Censorship Threat: How the European Union’s Digital Services Act Compels Global Censorship and Infringes on American Free Speech," argues that the DSA acts as a tool for censorship, compelling major social media platforms to moderate political discourse globally.
According to the committee, documents obtained under subpoena reveal communications between EU Commission staff and tech companies. These include discussions about "voluntary" codes of conduct and insights from a May 2025 DSA Workshop held behind closed doors with platform representatives.
The DSA imposes severe penalties on companies that do not comply with its mandates, including fines up to six percent of global revenue. In certain circumstances deemed extraordinary by regulators, platforms could be temporarily shut down within the EU. The committee notes that these penalties are intended to deter companies from allowing free speech and open political debate.
Key findings from the investigation highlight that:
- The DSA is pressuring companies to alter their global content moderation policies.
- Political speech, including humor and satire, is being censored under the DSA.
- Exercises from a recent workshop revealed how key terms in the DSA are defined by regulators.
- The censorship predominantly targets political conservatives.
As major social media platforms typically maintain uniform terms and conditions worldwide, this means EU standards affect content posted by American citizens. The report suggests that European regulators label First Amendment-protected content as disinformation or hate speech, requiring platforms to adjust their policies accordingly.
This publication is part of an ongoing investigation into foreign threats against U.S. speech. The committee continues gathering documents globally to support legislative reforms aimed at safeguarding First Amendment rights.
