Former Military Contractor Behind EU’s Radical Censorship Demands

[Valin]

Public Substack

Thierry Breton led cybersecurity firm whose subsidiary sold spying and censorship tools
Michael Shellenberger
Jul 13, 2024

In seeking sweeping censorship of much of the Internet, including major Big Tech platforms like Google, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter, a spokesman for the European Commission yesterday insisted that it wants to “ensure a safe and fair online environment for European citizens that is respectful of their rights, in particular freedom of expression."

But according to X owner Elon Musk, the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, is trying to force X to hire hundreds of content moderators to censor speech. The Commission "offered 𝕏 an illegal secret deal,” said Musk, “if we quietly censored speech without telling anyone, they would not fine us.”

“The other platforms accepted that deal,” said Musk, “𝕏 did not.”

The European Commission’s spokesman said, "The DSA requires a fair and transparent complaint mechanism for users. If an account is suspended, the user has the right to contest the decision. This means that decisions must not be arbitrary, and users are empowered to protect their online presence... When an account is restricted, the user must be informed and has the right to appeal the decision."

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Embedding European censors in American big tech companies in Europe is precisely what Breton is attempting to do now. In the US, dozens of former military and intelligence officials play senior roles in social media companies such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter, including content moderation roles.

The US military and the CIA’s venture capital arm, InQTel, were essential in financing and providing contracts for the creation of Google, in particular.

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We need a Congressional investigation and hearings into those foreign efforts, which go far beyond the Europeans, to interfere in domestic affairs, including through the demand of censorship, which violates our fundamental human rights and the US Constitution.

Members of Congress have shown a willingness to stand up to foreign governments. Rep. Jim Jordan subpoenaed documents from X showing Brazil’s illegal demands for censorship. And Rep. Chris Smith held hearings on Brazilian censorship that included testimony from its victims.

As a result, the picture Americans have of Europe may be impacted negatively by its aggressive push for censorship. For as much as the spokesmen for the European Commission claim to be “respectful of their rights,” the truth is that they are attempting to trample them.