Our response to US pressure on the Digital Services Act

**US Pressure Mounts on EU's Digital Services Act, Europe Reaffirms Digital Sovereignty** Recent US congressional reports have intensified pressure on the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), labeling it a tool for censorship and criticizing organizations involved in its enforcement. These reports, particularly "The Foreign Censorship Threat, Part II," published on February 3, 2026, specifically name Dutch organizations Bits of Freedom and Justice for Prosperity as "censorous NGOs." This action follows earlier attempts by the US House Committee on the Judiciary to counter DSA enforcement, including denying entry to five Europeans involved in Big Tech oversight, a move decried by French President Macron as "coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty." The US stance has escalated, with the Committee on the Judiciary terming the European Commission's penalty against X for transparency violations a "secret censorship order." This framing and the reports themselves are seen by European civil society as a direct assault on democratic processes and regulatory autonomy. The critique of the DSA and its proponents highlights the law's perceived power in regulating Big Tech platforms and underscores Europe's ongoing efforts to establish digital sovereignty in an environment dominated by American technology. In response, European organizations and policymakers are urging the EU to stand firm against what they characterize as intimidation tactics. They emphasize the importance of maintaining the DSA's integrity and continuing rigorous enforcement to ensure greater transparency, combat manipulation, and protect citizens from harmful online content. The situation also reinforces calls for Europe to reduce its reliance on American technology to safeguard its digital independence and decision-making autonomy.