In a bold stand against creeping authoritarianism overseas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced deep worries about the decline of free expression in Europe. Speaking at his year-end press conference with The Daily Wire on Friday, Rubio made it clear that he’s laser-focused on protecting American rights from foreign overreach.
Rubio declared that his main goal centers on cases where “American free speech could be implicated.” He painted a stark picture of the dangers ahead, highlighting how global policies could ensnare ordinary Americans.
“Are we going to live in a world where some American puts up a social media post and then gets to some airport somewhere and is arrested? We’re also concerned about the impact that some of their policies are having on our social media platforms,” he stated.
Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States has ramped up scrutiny of Europe’s speech restrictions. Back in July, the State Department fired off a pointed message on X, calling out the hypocrisy in full force.
“In Europe, thousands are being convicted for the crime of criticizing their own governments. This Orwellian message won’t fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom,” the post stated. It directly rebuked a claim from the French Mission of United Nations that in Europe, individuals are “free to speak, not free to spread illegal content.”
Across the pond in the United Kingdom, the situation looks even more dire. Reports from The Times reveal that about 30 individuals face arrest every single day simply for posting what authorities deem “offensive online messages.”
This isn’t just a conservative gripe—organizations from various sides, including the Alliance Defending Freedom and Amnesty International, have been raising red flags for years about these issues.
Rubio didn’t hold back on recent developments involving tech giants. He spotlighted the heavy-handed tactics aimed at platforms that dare to prioritize free dialogue.
“As you recently saw, you know, X is facing this massive multi-million dollar fine that they’re going to have to pay, I guess, because they want to continue to operate,” Rubio stated.
Despite these clashes, the secretary emphasized the need to collaborate with European allies. He pointed out that common “values and principles,” especially the bedrock of free speech, make these disputes all the more critical.
Last month, The Daily Wire exposed how the European Commission ignored glaring censorship dangers in rolling out the Digital Services Act. This regulation forces tech firms to cough up cash if they fail to clamp down on so-called “illegal content” or disinformation.
“I think the concerns on free speech are very substantive, and they need a robust response, and we feel that the European Commission has not actually conducted a robust review in the sense of actually inviting all voices and all partners to the table,” Dr. Adina Portaru, a senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom International, stated to The Daily Wire.
She went further, explaining the DSA’s far-reaching grip. No one is safe from its regulatory web, which could silence a wide array of everyday users and public figures alike.
“The DSA can impact anyone, can impact content creators and influencers and preachers and political dissidents and any kind of content online can be regulated by the DSA through its architecture,” Portaru said.
America’s pushback under Rubio and Trump serves as a wake-up call regarding the threats on freedom of speech.
Are you worried about the attacks on freedom of speech? As always, comment with your thoughts down below!
