In a message published on the X platform late on Monday 1 September, the European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, defended the application of EU digital legislation in the face of recent US attacks.
“The DSA and DMA are our sovereign legislations: non-discriminatory, applying to all online platforms in the EU. Fully protecting our fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. I will keep enforcing them, for our kids, citizens and businesses”, she said.
After remaining silent in the days following US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose additional tariffs on countries that regulate or tax digital technologies (see EUROPE 13695/1), the European Commissioner is intervening as the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has announced a hearing on Wednesday 3 September on the subject of “Europe’s Threat to American Speech and Innovation” (see EUROPE 13697/9).
Faced with accusations of censorship from Jim Jordan, the Republican member of the US House of Representatives responsible for the hearing, Henna Virkkunen reminded him in a letter that “the DSA and DMA are sovereign legislations of the European Union and fully respect and support fundamental rights, including freedom of expression”.
The former European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Thierry Breton, declined an invitation from the House of Representatives to attend the hearing as a witness.
See the Commissioner’s message: https://aeur.eu/f/i8b (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)