EU digital laws under attack: US diplomats warn of censorship!

EU digital laws under attack: US diplomats warn of censorship!

On December 7, 2025, there was an important development in the digital legal situation in the European Union. For the first time the Digital Services Act (DSA) applied, which aims to ensure transparency requirements and take action against unlawful online content. The DSA obliges digital service providers, such as online platforms, to provide more protection and transparency for consumers. The basic rule is that what is illegal offline must also be illegal online.

In his reaction to the application of the DSA, top US diplomat Landau commented on the platform X and criticized the statements of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio described the punishment as censorship and an attack by foreign governments on the American people. Landau noted that Rubio's criticism and similar voices from the United States underscore concerns about the impact of European digital laws on American companies.

Criticism and concern about the DSA

Landau cited ideological and strategic concerns about the EU's regulatory stance, which he viewed as potentially detrimental to shared Western security and values. In particular, he criticized the inconsistency in transatlantic cooperation between NATO and EU interests. This is exacerbated by the fact that the DSA has only been valid under a legal framework in all EU member states since February 17, 2024, and corresponding regulations have already been introduced for very large platforms and search engines with more than 45 million users per month since August 25, 2023.

The EU representatives emphasize that the DSA is intended to ensure the protection of users on the Internet from deception, fraud and misinformation. Digital service providers are obliged to create a safe online environment and respect consumer rights, with enforcement predominantly falling to EU Member States. The Federal Network Agency in Germany acts as the central coordination point.

Digital identities and their meaning

Another context that is important in the discussion about digital legislation is the role of digital identities. These identify and differentiate between users in the IT ecosystem and are central to authentication and security in various digital contexts. Over 51% of organizations consider managing and securing digital identities as one of their top priorities, showing how essential they are in an increasingly digital world.

Digital identities can be divided into several types, including human identities, machine identities, and federated identities, each with specific applications and significance for cybersecurity and identity and access management. Examples of the application of digital identities can be found in government services, healthcare and e-commerce, underscoring the growing relevance of this topic and making it clear that the DSA and similar regulations have far-reaching implications for the digital landscape.

Overall, the combination of US criticism with the new European regulations and the aspect of digital identities shows that we find ourselves in a complex structure of legal, economic and technological challenges. The evaluation of the DSA by early 2027 will be crucial to assess the effectiveness of these regulations and make future adjustments.