EU online safety law could possibly be dangerous without cost speech

Parliamentarians and industry experts met on Wednesday to listen to of the hazards of a proposed EU online censorship law. 

The event on the European Parliament was co-hosted by legal advocacy group, the Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF).

It looked specifically on the proposed Digital Services Act (DSA), although other free speech concerns were raised in the course of the morning session.

Under the proposed DSA act, non-European tech firms corresponding to X or Meta (Facebook’s owner) can be required to remove “illegal content” or potentially face huge fines. 

Critics are concerned that the law could possibly be used to impose censorship across the European Union, as whichever EU country has essentially the most restrictive speech laws within the bloc could easily grow to be the usual by which decisions are made throughout the continent.

“Free speech is again under threat on this continent in a way it hasn’t been because the nightmare of Europe’s authoritarian regimes just just a few a long time ago. The web is the frontline of this assault on free speech in Europe,” Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International, told the meeting. 

Attending the event was American author Rod Dreher who raised concerns about “two-tier policing” within the UK and a climate of “soft totalitarianism” within the West. 

“Refuse to take part in any event where one cannot speak the reality,” he said, adding: “Prepare to suffer for the reality.”

Speaking before the event, Stephen Bartulica, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Croatia, said, “Pressure against the Digital Services Act is quickly constructing each inside and out of doors the European Parliament.

“Concern from the United States, including from their State Department and Congress, over the censorial impact of the DSA shouldn’t be ignored by the Commission — the US is an important ally of Europe.”

Bartulica added that he was committed to free speech and called upon Europe to reject online censorship.

Coleman warned that fairly than protecting residents, the DSA risks becoming a political tool.

“The DSA is some of the serious threats to online free speech within the digital age,” he said, speaking ahead of the event. 

“The move towards censorship in Europe through this framework is deeply concerning and should be challenged.

“We cannot accept a transatlantic divide on free speech, where the US recommits to the protection of this fundamental freedom, while Europe tramples on it. Freedom of expression should be protected and upheld across the globe.”

During the event, Bartulica said that in some parts of Europe, simply quoting Scripture was being labelled “hate speech” since it is “not possible to define” as a legal concept. 

He warned that if the DSA is used against alleged hate speech, it’ll result in censorship. 

The same concern was raised by Coleman who called for democracy to be preserved across Europe.

“Those in positions of power turn to censorship because they don’t trust democracy. But this censorial impulse should be rejected. There is a wealthy history of valuing free speech on this continent,” he said.