U.S. diplomats have been ordered to campaign against the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the law stifles free speech and imposes costs on American tech firms.
The directive, dated 4 August and seen by Reuters, instructs U.S. embassies across Europe to lobby national governments and regulators to repeal or amend the DSA, a landmark EU law requiring tech firms to tackle illegal online content such as hate speech and child sexual abuse material.
Signed by Secretary Rubio, the State Department cable describes the DSA as “undue” and a threat to free expression, particularly for American users and businesses. It also directs diplomats to report cases of censorship affecting U.S. citizens or companies.
“Posts should focus efforts to build host government and other stakeholder support to repeal and/or amend the DSA,” the cable said, citing concerns about overly broad definitions of “illegal content” and financial penalties.
The European Commission has rejected accusations of censorship and said the DSA is not under discussion in trade negotiations with Washington.
“Our legislation will not be changed. The DMA and the DSA are not on the table,” Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in March.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have criticised the DSA publicly, claiming it suppresses conservative voices. In February, Vance met with Germany’s far-right AfD party and accused the EU of democratic backsliding.
The cable reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to export what it describes as “America’s free-speech tradition,” a stance that has caused friction with European allies.
Tech firms including Meta and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have also raised concerns about the DSA, with some calling its content moderation rules incompatible with U.S. free speech protections.
Regional powers gathered in Moscow on Monday for talks on Afghanistan, focusing on security, economic cooperation and Kabul’s relations with ...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan held talks in Tehran on Monday on bilateral ties and efforts t...
Four major German political foundations have halted their work in Georgia as tighter rules on foreign grants put pressure on a decades-old partners...
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum, as President Donald Trump signals he may soon decide whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 5 October 2026. These are the top five elections making headlines around the world.
The United States has withdrawn all 12 of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, just a week after several people were arrested over an alleged plot targeting the air base.
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called a snap election for 29 November in a bid to strengthen his mandate after a fragmented parliament rejected the government's key housing decrees last week amid widespread protests.
King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has launched legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest in connection with an investigation into documents allegedly passed to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment