US State Department blasts Europe over “Orwellian” free speech curbs

The Trump administration has intensified its criticism of Europe’s approach to online speech, accusing EU governments of engaging in “Orwellian” censorship through the regulation of social media platforms.

According to POLITICO, in a social media post on July 22, the State Department, without citing specific cases, claimed that “thousands of people are being convicted for criticising their own governments.” The post echoed remarks made earlier this year by Vice President JD Vance and asserted: “This Orwellian message won’t fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom.”

The post also appeared to target the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) — a sweeping set of rules governing tech and social media platforms — saying: “All the DSA protects is European leaders from their own people.”

The State Department did not respond to requests for clarification following the post. However, the comments mark a continuation of mounting US criticism of European content moderation policies.

Major American tech companies, including Meta and X, have already faced legal challenges under the DSA, which came into force in 2022 and requires platforms to remove illegal content and disinformation or face penalties.

Simultaneously, US authorities have increasingly subjected foreigners applying for visas to scrutiny of their online posts. The State Department has instructed consular officers to assess social media activity for any “indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”

This latest State Department statement follows previous condemnations from Trump officials. In March, US Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr warned during a speech at the Mobile World Congress that European regulations pose a threat to free speech.

At the Munich Security Conference in February, Vice President Vance accused European governments of abandoning core democratic values, calling it “the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values.”

In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials allegedly involved in suppressing online expression—specifically naming countries in Latin America and Europe.

By Tamilla Hasanova