U.S. Pushes Back Against EU's Digital Services Act

The Trump administration is actively mobilizing U.S. diplomats to challenge the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), perceived as a threat to American free speech and tech companies. According to an internal diplomatic cable reviewed by Reuters, U.S. diplomats in Europe have been instructed to build opposition against the DSA.

Signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department cable criticizes the EU's measures to combat misinformation and hate speech, describing them as undue constraints on free expression. U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have accused European regulations of censoring Americans, an allegation the EU denies.

The directive calls for U.S. embassies in Europe to engage with EU governments, advocating for changes to or repeal of the DSA. The impetus reflects Trump's broader agenda to counteract censorship and defend what he terms America's free speech tradition. The controversy underscores existing tensions between the U.S. and its European allies.

(With inputs from agencies.)