Macron pushes for tougher enforcement of the EU's Digital Services Act

Macron rejects “American free speech” model, demands faster EU censorship enforcement

Cassie B.

• Macron pushes for tougher enforcement of the EU's Digital Services Act, calling American-style free speech "the opposite of free speech"
• The DSA lets regulators fine major platforms up to 6% of global revenue, and the EU hit Elon Musk's X with a €120 million penalty in December 2025
• U.S. officials, including VP J.D. Vance and the Justice Department, accuse Brussels of using the law to target American tech companies
• The dispute has drawn in visa restrictions on EU officials and Trump's own clash with U.S. outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico
• A House Judiciary Committee probe found EU regulators labeling common political phrases as "hate speech," raising fears of a global censorship standard

In a direct challenge to American free expression principles, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized what he called "American free speech" while advocating for tougher enforcement of the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) during a trip to Spain on Wednesday. The French leader urged Brussels to apply the controversial law "much more extensively, much faster and much more forcefully" to combat online misinformation.

The DSA, adopted in 2022, allows regulators to fine major platforms up to 6% of their global annual revenue for violations. In December 2025, the EU levied its first DSA penalty against Elon Musk's X platform, ordering the company to pay €120 million. U.S. officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have accused the EU of using the law as a censorship tool targeting American companies.

Speaking to reporters, Macron argued that the American concept of free speech, as currently practiced by some, represents the opposite of genuine free expression. He contended that individual freedoms carry inherent responsibilities and must respect the rights of others. The French president drew a comparison to walking down a street, stating that personal liberty does not include the freedom to assault, insult, or damage shared public spaces. He insisted that those who distribute content on social media must be held legally accountable, just as journalists and editors face consequences for publishing false information.

Under the DSA, the world's largest online platforms — Facebook, X, TikTok, Google, and YouTube among them — must police illegal content, disclose how their advertising and algorithms work, shield minors, and account for risks tied to disinformation, with the strictest obligations reserved for the biggest platforms.

Following the December 2025 fine against X, the U.S. government backed the company's appeal, arguing the EU had exceeded its authority by targeting an American firm. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division said Washington "will not tolerate" Brussels using regulation to rein in American tech companies. Vance called the EU's actions an attack on American companies over what he termed "garbage" and accused the bloc of eroding free speech.

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