During the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, Mike Benz, who leads the Foundation for Freedom Online, and Dr. Robert Malone, a virologist known for claiming to have invented mRNA technology, spoke with Daily Caller editor Amber Duke about online censorship issues in Western nations.
The two discussed the European Union’s (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires certain online platforms to moderate content. A report from the House Judiciary Committee, led by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan from Ohio, highlighted how the EU effectively imposed censorship globally through the DSA, infringing on First Amendment rights for Americans.
While EU officials frame the DSA as a regulation for security and illegal content, the report argues that it essentially pushes major online platforms to censor valid political discussions, misinformation, and so-called “hate speech.” This appears to be a strategic move, with claims that the DSA is part of a long-term plan by the European Commission to influence platform policies worldwide to avoid hefty fines that could hit 6 percent of their global earnings.
According to the report, this has led to the suppression of “true information and political discourse” on critical topics like the pandemic, immigration, and gender issues, often behind closed doors. The House Judiciary report revealed that over 100 secretive meetings have taken place since around 2020, promoting stricter rules that affect users internationally.
Benz, a former official from the Trump administration, criticized this so-called “censorship-industrial complex,” suggesting that it’s a collaboration of government, private sector, and media to create a censoring environment. He noted that this trend escalated following Donald Trump’s win in the 2016 election, as concerns about the First Amendment surfaced.
He mentioned that instead of a direct government intervention, there seems to be an informal alliance of nonprofits and other entities that do the government’s bidding, which has resulted in significant budget cuts for organizations like USAID.
Benz pointed out that even though efforts have been made to reduce the influence of the censorship apparatus in the U.S., the issue remains. He believes that former censors are now finding roles in Europe and suggests that transparency regarding these organizations is crucial for Americans to understand what they support financially.
Malone shared his experiences of being censored during the pandemic for his comments regarding vaccines, emphasizing that whatever occurs in Europe has a ripple effect in the U.S., especially with the DSA’s implications.
He expressed concern that the frameworks set in Europe could also be replicated in the U.S., impacting how speech is controlled. Duke added how Elon Musk has managed to break some barriers against online censorship, yet reminded that Big Tech firms face severe repercussions globally if they do not comply with censorship demands.
