Trump may impose sanctions against EU officials
Such information was reported to the agency by Reuters immediately from two sources. According to them, the US believes that this law subjects Americans to censorship and imposes costs on American technology companies. The sources added that the US State Department has not yet made a final decision on sanctions, which will likely include visa restrictions.
It is also currently unknown who may be affected by the sanctions, but, according to sources, US officials conducted an internal investigation on this issue last week.
On the eve, Trump threatened countries with digital taxes with "further additional tariffs" on their goods if they do not repeal this law.
Earlier, Reuters, citing an internal State Department telegram, reported that the Trump administration instructed American diplomats in Europe to start a lobbying campaign to oppose the Digital Services Act and to achieve its repeal or at least amendments.
The EU Digital Services Act aims to enhance online safety, particularly by forcing tech giants to more actively combat illegal content such as hate speech and materials related to child sexual abuse.
In the US, it is believed that the EU is already implementing "unjustified" restrictions on freedom of expression in the fight against hate speech and disinformation, and the Digital Services Act will further strengthen these restrictions.
In early August, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered American diplomats to regularly interact with EU governments and authorities on digital services issues to express US concerns regarding the DSA and the financial costs for American companies. In May, Rubio threatened visa bans for individuals who "censor" American words, particularly on social networks, and suggested that this policy could be directed at foreign officials regulating American tech companies' activities.
A State Department spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied Reuters' reports about potential sanctions. "We are very concerned about the increasing censorship in Europe, but currently have no additional information to provide," said the spokesperson in an email.
The European Commission spokesperson refused to comment on potential sanctions but previously called US claims of censorship "completely unfounded." "Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in the EU. It underpins the Digital Technologies Agreement. It sets rules for online intermediaries to combat illegal content while protecting freedom of speech and information on the Internet," said the spokesperson.
On the eve, Trump wrote on social media: "With this TRUTH, I inform all countries with digital taxes, legislation, rules, or provisions that if these discriminatory actions are not repealed, I, as President of the United States, will impose significant additional tariffs on the export of this country to the US and will impose restrictions on the export of our highly protected technologies and chips."
