New Law to Expand EU Control of Social Media

The European Parliament voted on January 18 to extend the scope of criminal offenses related to hate crimes and hate speech. Hate speech penalties can be determined at the European Union level and enforced across national borders.

Previously, EU-level crimes applied to terrorism, trafficking of arms or drugs, money laundering and organized crime. Now, any content deemed offensive or misleading could get social media platforms or individuals in trouble with the law.

If you believe in traditional marriage, oppose transgender ideology, or worry about uncontrolled immigration, expressing your opinions on social media could put you on the EU’s wanted list.

‘New social dynamics’: The EU has already criminalized hate speech related to race, skin color, religion, descent, nationality or ethnic origin. The new law would add the dimensions of “sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, age, disability and any other fundamental characteristic.”

There is no clear definition of what “any other fundamental characteristic” might entail. The report cited “new social dynamics” as the reason for this addition.

Expression of intent: The European Parliament’s vote did not make the proposal into a law. The European Council decides whether to reject, amend, or write it into EU law as is.

But the vote does reveal an increasingly dictatorial spirit in the EU. There is growing pressure to conform with the narrative approved by Europe’s elite. Those who refuse risk severe financial and even criminal penalties.

The X wars: One high-profile example is the EU’s attempt to force X to comply with the recently developed Digital Services Act. In a Sept. 26, 2023, speech, European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová claimed X had a higher ratio of disinformation and misinformation than any other platform.

On December 18, the EU began official proceedings against the company, claiming noncompliance with the Digital Services Act. X may be fined up to 6 percent of its global revenue or lose its license to operate in the EU.

In 2019, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote:

Through various pieces of legislation, the EU now has extraordinary influence in the homes of Internet users and within every corporation and government on Earth. The EU is waging a campaign of technological imperialism, and most people don’t even know it!

While a lot of this legislation is created by the EU, the ultimate source of this global effort to undermine the United States’ domination of the tech industry and control of the Internet is Germany.

What role does Germany play in this? And why should you be concerned? Find out by reading “Germany Is Taking Control of the Internet.”