House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) recently led a delegation through several European cities to engage with various stakeholders on the state of free speech and regulatory concerns surrounding digital services and markets. According to a press release from the Judiciary Committee, Jordan highlighted the unresolved anxieties pertaining to the European Union's Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and the UK's Online Safety Act. "Nothing we heard in Europe eased our concerns about the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, or Online Safety Act," the Chairman said, expressing a fear that such regulations might suppress speech in a manner threatening to democratic values.
During the delegation's meetings, themes of innovation, replication, and regulation emerged, with Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chairman Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) drawing contrasts between American technology firms and European regulatory practices. "America innovates, China replicates, then Europe regulates," Fitzgerald remarked as representatives met with company officials and free speech advocates, as mentioned in the same press release. Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) underscored the importance of aligning U.S. and European free speech protections, though raising concerns over how European laws may disadvantage American companies.
The bipartisan group discussed a range of topics but remained especially focused on the implications for American businesses. Kiley called attention to the disproportionate effects of these regulations on companies, many of which have bases in California, suggesting they create burdens that impact innovation and shift wealth from the U.S. to Europe. "This kind of overreach doesn’t just burden innovation; it effectively shifts wealth from the U.S. to Europe," Kiley stated, stressing the need for these issues to be key in upcoming U.S.–EU talks, as reported by the Judiciary Committee.
The committee aimed not only to protect free speech in the U.S. but also to promote those values abroad. However, the delegation returned from Europe concerned that upcoming laws there could restrict speech and set a troubling example for global internet rules. This concern remains despite Kiley highlighting progress made in the Judiciary Committee and assuring that the U.S. administration will clearly hear the delegation’s stance as talks with Europe continue. “We’re going to make sure the administration hears that loud and clear,” Kiley said, as per a report by the Judiciary Committee.
