"Quoting Scripture Now A Hate Crime? EU Targets Bible, X, And Free Speech" - video

Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Lorcan Price warned lawmakers that the European Union’s Digital Services Act is no longer a theoretical threat to free speech but is actively being used to pressure American companies into enforcing European speech standards worldwide.

Price made the remarks while addressing members of Congress, where he discussed the impact of the Digital Services Act and related regulations on U.S.-based technology companies and American First Amendment rights.

He said the EU’s approach has shifted from speculation to enforcement, citing major fines and ongoing investigations targeting U.S. firms...

He described the Digital Services Act as part of a broader effort by European authorities to control online speech and apply those standards internationally.

“There can be no doubt that the European Digital Services Act is the tip of a massive censorship industrial complex,” Price said.

Price cited fines imposed on X Corporation as evidence of the EU’s enforcement strategy.

“The enormous fines levied on X corporation by the European Commission. Since the last hearing, has proved beyond all doubt that the European Union means to strangle free speech by a systemic assault on US companies,” he said.

According to Price, the EU’s strategy involves multiple investigations, expanding regulations, and heavy financial penalties.

“The EU has a multi pronged strategy to open multiple investigations, to add more and more regulations and to impose crippling fines, and ultimately, I fear, to attempt to break up or ban companies such as x who are pro free speech,” he said.

Price said the effort goes beyond Europe and is intended to impose European speech rules globally.

“This censorship campaign is not just aimed at destroying free speech in Europe. It’s about imposing European laws globally,” he said.

He argued that American companies are being forced into the role of global content moderators under EU standards.

“US companies are therefore transformed into a global censorship police they must engage in a process of analyzing, quote, how platform design algorithms and content moderation impacts public debate, misinformation and media pluralism,” Price said.

Price warned that noncompliance can result in prolonged investigations and financial penalties.

“If they don’t comply, then they face possibly endless investigations and crippling fines,” he said.

He provided examples of what European regulators consider illegal content.

“Illegal content can mean calling a German politician an idiot or posting, as we know, a Bible verse,” Price said...

Price also referenced additional enforcement actions in Europe, including law enforcement activity in France and policy announcements in Spain.

“We saw that the French police raided ex’s offices in Paris just this week, and the Spanish Prime Minister has announced criminal liability against company owners for so called hate speech,” he said.

Price said fines imposed on American companies have become routine.