The Trump administration directed American diplomats in Europe to initiate a lobbying effort against the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which Washington argues curtails free speech and burdens American tech firms, as per a diplomatic cable viewed by Reuters and reported by News.ro.
A State Department cable dated August 4, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlights that the EU enacts „unjustified” limitations on freedom of expression while aiming to combat hate speech, misinformation, and falsehoods, with the DSA further reinforcing these limitations.
The EU’s DSA is a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at enhancing safety and fairness in the online landscape, mandating tech giants to increase efforts against illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual exploitation materials.
However, Trump has prioritized opposing censorship—particularly what he perceives as the silencing of conservative voices online—as a key aspect of his administration. Senior American officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have targeted European officials and their regulations, accusing them of „censoring” Americans, a statement the European Union contests.
The diplomatic cable, termed a „request for action,” instructs American diplomats at U.S. embassies in Europe to consistently engage with EU governments and digital services authorities to voice U.S. concerns regarding the DSA and its financial implications for American companies.
„Posts should concentrate on efforts to rally the host government’s and other stakeholders’ backing for the repeal and/or amendment of the DSA or associated EU or national laws that limit online expression,” the cable’s „objectives” section indicates.
The cable provides concrete recommendations to American diplomats on how the EU law could be modified and arguments to aid them in advocating for this perspective.
The U.S. State Department has not provided comments on this information.
A spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment on the cable but affirmed that freedom of expression is a fundamental right throughout the Union. „We firmly reject any claims of censorship. The allegations of censorship related to the DSA are entirely baseless,” the spokesperson remarked.
In March, EU antitrust and technology leaders informed U.S. lawmakers that the new tech regulation aims to maintain open digital markets and does not specifically target American firms.
The Commission further dismissed speculation that the EU’s tech regulatory framework might be discussed during trade negotiations with the U.S. „Our legislation will not be modified. DMA and DSA are off the trade negotiation table with the U.S.,” Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated during a press briefing.
The directive to American diplomats signifies an escalation in the administration’s efforts to champion what it terms „America’s freedom of expression tradition,” a policy that has heightened tensions in already delicate U.S.-European relations.
This policy gained prominence in February when U.S. Vice President JD Vance alarmed European leaders by accusing them—at the Munich Conference, ordinarily a venue for transatlantic solidarity—of censoring entities like the German right-wing AfD and retreating from democratic principles. Romania was also cited as a negative case in the notable Munich address by the U.S. Vice President.
During his visit to Europe, Vance engaged with AfD leaders—classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence service as a suspected extremist faction—who became the largest opposition party following February’s elections in Germany.
Trump and his Republican associates have persistently claimed that former Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration promotes the suppression of free speech on online platforms, particularly regarding efforts to combat misinformation related to vaccines and elections.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the Biden administration’s interactions with social media companies did not infringe upon the First Amendment’s free speech protections.
Moreover, the State Department’s directive requires American diplomats to look into any allegations of censorship, defined as „any government actions to undermine protected forms of expression or to coerce private companies to undertake similar actions,” with a focus on incidents impacting American citizens and businesses. Their investigations should encompass arrests, legal actions, property confiscations, and online suspensions, as stated in the document.
„Post staff should convene with government officials, companies, civil organizations, and affected individuals to report cases of censorship—including but not limited to those concerning the DSA,” the diplomatic cable states.
In March, the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission explicitly criticized the DSA, asserting that it contradicts America’s tradition of free expression.
In May, Rubio threatened to revoke visas for individuals who „censor” American speech, including on social media, suggesting the policy could target foreign officials regulating American tech firms.
American tech companies such as Facebook and Instagram, under Meta, have also expressed their views, arguing that the DSA amounts to censoring their platforms.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of social media platform X, was a key advisor to the American President prior to their fallout, while Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet, Google’s parent company, CEOs were prominently featured at Trump’s inauguration in January.
Rubio’s directive notably critiques the DSA’s designation of content as „illegal,” claiming it is overly broad, and urges American diplomats to advocate for a more narrow definition of „illegal content” to prevent restrictions on free speech, including in political and religious discussions.
Another recommendation was to withdraw or amend the Code of Conduct on Disinformation, a framework set forth by the DSA, which the State Department contended imposes „excessively broad controls” on content, inhibiting free expression.
Other points of contention include eliminating or reducing penalties for non-compliance with content regulations and abolishing „trusted flaggers,” appointed by national authorities to report illegal online content to platforms.
