Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has proposed sweeping regulations on social media platforms, threatening to undermine freedom of expression and individual autonomy. The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) are at the core of this agenda, pushing for an unprecedented level of control over content and platform practices.
The DSA mandates that platforms disclose how their algorithms work, forcing them to operate under government-approved guidelines. This regulation also imposes strict requirements on content moderation, advertising practices, and risk management. These regulations could stifle free speech by compelling platforms to adhere to government-determined standards or face severe penalties, including fines of up to 6% of their global turnover. The European Commission can enforce ongoing penalties for non-compliance, further consolidating state power over online discourse.
In addition to the DSA, von der Leyen has stressed the need for a new EU competition policy, which would affect global markets and limit fair competition. The intention is to scale up European companies while ensuring that regulations remain in place to control large platforms like Apple, Meta, and Google. These new regulations are likely to impact U.S. Big Tech companies, raising concerns about the erosion of free-market principles.
The European Commission has vowed to fully enforce these laws, despite criticism from many who argue that these regulations threaten the sovereignty of online platforms. A coalition of 39 NGOs has warned that figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk should not influence the enforcement of the DSA and DMA, yet the concern remains that these policies will erode free speech and give governments too much control over global platforms.
By placing these controls on social media, the European Commission risks undermining the core values of freedom and individual autonomy, potentially paving the way for overreaching censorship both in Europe and beyond.
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