Europe, South Korea, and Brazil Attack U.S. Tech Over Free Speech

French authorities raided X’s Paris office this week as part of a criminal probe into the platform’s alleged “biased algorithms.” X owner Elon Musk denounced the police action as a “political attack.” It marks the latest escalation in Europe’s struggle against American tech companies.

The European Union has ramped up enforcement of its tech regulations to ensure social media platforms censor more and comply with byzantine business rules. This prompted the ire of the Trump administration, which sees the EU’s efforts as intentionally anti-American and anti-free speech.

Unfortunately, the EU isn’t alone in this crusade against American tech. South Korea and Brazil are also waging their own wars on Silicon Valley giants to ensure they suppress free speech and abide by draconian regulations that favor obedient, non-American competitors. 

It’s a major problem for our country, as well as for conservatives all over the world who want to preserve free speech. Big Tech was once an ally for globalists in suppressing dissenting voices and imposing liberal groupthink. Thanks to figures like Musk, it’s changed over the last few years to allow more speech and different views. That’s a problem for liberals here in America and abroad. Foreign governments now hope that their draconian rules can force Big Tech back to its old state of following left-wing dictates.

Europe’s efforts in this regard are well-known. The UK and the EU have both considered shutting down X in their domains in order to erase this bastion of free speech. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed last month to take away the platform’s ability to regulate itself if it can’t control Grok AI and “hate speech.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced this week that his government would impose criminal penalties on social media platforms that allow “hate speech” and “misinformation.” The country would also ban teenagers from using these platforms. 

Musk and other prominent figures have drawn attention to these moves coming from Europe. What’s less well-known is South Korea’s efforts to curb American tech.