Berin Szóka
@berinszoka.bsky.social
President @TechFreedom.org | 🇺🇸🇩🇪🇪🇺🗽 | Lawyer: tech, free speech, FTC, FCC, admin | “Resident Antagonist”—Politico | “The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right” | 🇫🇷🏳️🌈📚⛰️🥾🚣🎼 | doing PhD in 🇪🇺/🇺🇸 platform law @ Dublin City U
Reposted by Berin Szóka
3/ Don't let anyone — not even the US Secretary of State — tell you that the European Commission's €120 million enforcement against Elon Musk’s X under the Digital Service Act is about censorship, writes Daphne Keller. It’s just the EU enforcing some normal, boring requirements of its law, she says.
The EU’s Fine Against X is Not About Speech or ‘Censorship’ | TechPolicy.Press
The €120 million fine under the Digital Services Act is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring requirements of its law, writes Stanford's Daphne Keller.
www.techpolicy.press
December 6, 2025 at 2:15 AM
3/ Don't let anyone — not even the US Secretary of State — tell you that the European Commission's €120 million enforcement against Elon Musk’s X under the Digital Service Act is about censorship, writes Daphne Keller. It’s just the EU enforcing some normal, boring requirements of its law, she says.
Reposted by Berin Szóka
4/ When it comes to the ongoing transatlantic battle over digital regulations, three separate stories drew headlines this week that together indicate an escalation of the dispute between Washington and Brussels and crystallize the broader narrative of which they are a part, writes Dean Jackson.
White House 'Censorship' Grievance Fantasy Kicks Into High Gear | TechPolicy.Press
Three related stories are each part of the larger geopolitical contest which now defines transatlantic relations, writes Dean Jackson.
www.techpolicy.press
December 6, 2025 at 2:15 AM
4/ When it comes to the ongoing transatlantic battle over digital regulations, three separate stories drew headlines this week that together indicate an escalation of the dispute between Washington and Brussels and crystallize the broader narrative of which they are a part, writes Dean Jackson.
🇪🇺: 🇺🇸 is ”still our biggest ally”
”he only hits me because he loves me” 😞
”he only hits me because he loves me” 😞
Europe has been underestimating its own power, especially towards Russia.
We should be more self confident.
The United States is still our biggest ally.
And it's in the interest of the U.S. that we work together.
Extracts from my intervention at the 2025 Doha Forum ↓
We should be more self confident.
The United States is still our biggest ally.
And it's in the interest of the U.S. that we work together.
Extracts from my intervention at the 2025 Doha Forum ↓
December 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🇪🇺: 🇺🇸 is ”still our biggest ally”
”he only hits me because he loves me” 😞
”he only hits me because he loves me” 😞
Reposted by Berin Szóka
What will the children think if Bugs Bunny no longer strictly conforms to heterosexual masculinity
December 6, 2025 at 12:43 PM
What will the children think if Bugs Bunny no longer strictly conforms to heterosexual masculinity
Reposted by Berin Szóka
ICYMI!
@noupside.bsky.social & I had a great chat today on @lawfaremedia.org about the EU fining X €120 M for violations of the Digital Service Act (DSA)
We run down:
* what the DSA is (and isn't)
* what these fines are actually about & how they'll play out
* why this isn't about censorship
@noupside.bsky.social & I had a great chat today on @lawfaremedia.org about the EU fining X €120 M for violations of the Digital Service Act (DSA)
We run down:
* what the DSA is (and isn't)
* what these fines are actually about & how they'll play out
* why this isn't about censorship
This morning, @klonick.bsky.social sat down with @noupside.bsky.social to discuss the European Commission's announcemrnt that that they are fining X (formerly Twitter) 120 million euros and how it fits into the geopolitical struggle over free speech.
youtube.com/live/1Cp2ns6...
youtube.com/live/1Cp2ns6...
Lawfare Live: The EU Fines X 120 M Euros - What Comes Next?
YouTube video by Lawfare
youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
ICYMI!
@noupside.bsky.social & I had a great chat today on @lawfaremedia.org about the EU fining X €120 M for violations of the Digital Service Act (DSA)
We run down:
* what the DSA is (and isn't)
* what these fines are actually about & how they'll play out
* why this isn't about censorship
@noupside.bsky.social & I had a great chat today on @lawfaremedia.org about the EU fining X €120 M for violations of the Digital Service Act (DSA)
We run down:
* what the DSA is (and isn't)
* what these fines are actually about & how they'll play out
* why this isn't about censorship
Reposted by Berin Szóka
Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship.
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship.
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/
this should have been obvious at least a year ago, if not like eight
The headline, the main takeaway from a European viewpoint is this:
The transatlantic relationship as we know it is over. Yes, we kinda knew this. But this is now official US White House policy. Not a sppech, not a statement. The West as it used to be no longer exists.
The transatlantic relationship as we know it is over. Yes, we kinda knew this. But this is now official US White House policy. Not a sppech, not a statement. The West as it used to be no longer exists.
December 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
this should have been obvious at least a year ago, if not like eight
Two of my favorite people. Don't miss it!
Crossover time!
On a new Tech Policy Podcast, @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social heads over to the @techdirt.com Podcast, hosted by the one and only @mmasnick.bsky.social, for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of social media.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/425...
On a new Tech Policy Podcast, @corbinkbarthold.bsky.social heads over to the @techdirt.com Podcast, hosted by the one and only @mmasnick.bsky.social, for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of social media.
podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/425...
December 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Two of my favorite people. Don't miss it!
The 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 conflict over "free speech" isn't really about 🇪🇺's sometimes illiberal limits on speech. It's about preserving "European" identity—literally, whiteness—
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
The 🇺🇸/🇪🇺 conflict over "free speech" isn't really about 🇪🇺's sometimes illiberal limits on speech. It's about preserving "European" identity—literally, whiteness—
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
and exporting the MAGA revolution, as the new 🇺🇸 National Security Strategy makes clear. "Free speech" just makes it sound a tad less racist
"Universities must reject [Trump's] compact ... [to] preserve the innovation, research excellence and fearless pursuit of truth that have made 🇺🇸 higher education … the envy of the world [and to] protect the liberties and structural constraints on government power that are vital to our democracy."
Commentary: Colleges Must Reject Trump’s ‘Compact’ To Protect Our Democracy https://bit.ly/48aMdyU
December 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
"Universities must reject [Trump's] compact ... [to] preserve the innovation, research excellence and fearless pursuit of truth that have made 🇺🇸 higher education … the envy of the world [and to] protect the liberties and structural constraints on government power that are vital to our democracy."
Reposted by Berin Szóka
We have spent more than 1,000 years trying to separate the awesome prosecutorial powers of the state from the personal whims and vendettas of the head of state.
Trump’s actions and ideology seek to reverse those gains.
Here’s the history he’d like to reverse www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-oldest...
Trump’s actions and ideology seek to reverse those gains.
Here’s the history he’d like to reverse www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-oldest...
The oldest abuse in human government
Donald Trump and the ‘king’s justice’
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
We have spent more than 1,000 years trying to separate the awesome prosecutorial powers of the state from the personal whims and vendettas of the head of state.
Trump’s actions and ideology seek to reverse those gains.
Here’s the history he’d like to reverse www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-oldest...
Trump’s actions and ideology seek to reverse those gains.
Here’s the history he’d like to reverse www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-oldest...
Never listen to Josh Hawley about anything
December 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Never listen to Josh Hawley about anything
Reposted by Berin Szóka
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
american reporters, you've got to call bullshit on this. vance, purveyor of hate/propaganda, wants the public to believe rules on, for instance, transparency in advertising and forms of deception on X are censorship.
don't fall for it.
don't fall for it.
December 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
The Trump admin has waged war on content moderation in the name of "free speech" to bully tech companies into not moderating content like this comment
December 5, 2025 at 3:26 AM
The Trump admin has waged war on content moderation in the name of "free speech" to bully tech companies into not moderating content like this comment
Good news! Only 37% of Republicans (are willing to admit to pollsters that they) believe the Holocaust was fake news, only 51% believe the 2020 election was stolen with fake ballots and voting machines (hacked by the deceased Hugo Chavez), and only 33% think vaccines cause autism. This is fine! 🙃
December 5, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Good news! Only 37% of Republicans (are willing to admit to pollsters that they) believe the Holocaust was fake news, only 51% believe the 2020 election was stolen with fake ballots and voting machines (hacked by the deceased Hugo Chavez), and only 33% think vaccines cause autism. This is fine! 🙃
More nonsense. X faces liability under the 🇪🇺 Digital Services Act for (1) deceiving users by selling blue ✔️ for "verified" users (2) inadequate ad transparency, and (3) researcher access to data. The Commission has not moved past investigating how X handles unlawful content or Community Notes... 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
More nonsense. X faces liability under the 🇪🇺 Digital Services Act for (1) deceiving users by selling blue ✔️ for "verified" users (2) inadequate ad transparency, and (3) researcher access to data. The Commission has not moved past investigating how X handles unlawful content or Community Notes... 🧵
THIS is what real "news distortion" looks like: The president of the United States bullied CBS into selectively editing an interview with him. The FCC should repeal its news distortion policy as a dangerous weapon against the free press, but if it won't, it must open a docket here
@raskin.house.gov: "President Trump directed CBS to edit his own interview after suing the network for editing his opponent’s interview, and CBS complied with his requests and omitted its anchor’s questions about President Trump’s pardons." @poynterinstitute.bsky.social mailchi.mp/poynter/top-...
Top Democrat files complaint over '60 Minutes' interview with President Trump
Jamie Raskin wrote to CBS's ombudsman, a role created in an agreement with FCC during Paramount merger to address 'media bias'.
mailchi.mp
December 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
THIS is what real "news distortion" looks like: The president of the United States bullied CBS into selectively editing an interview with him. The FCC should repeal its news distortion policy as a dangerous weapon against the free press, but if it won't, it must open a docket here
Reposted by Berin Szóka
This is why I support freedom of expression.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
December 2, 2025 at 12:48 PM
This is why I support freedom of expression.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
I'm not saying that libertarianism has become a grotesque Donald Trump-adjacent parody of its former self...
I'm saying that it's become a grotesque Mike-Benz-adjacent parody...
I'm saying that it's become a grotesque Mike-Benz-adjacent parody...
November 30, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I'm not saying that libertarianism has become a grotesque Donald Trump-adjacent parody of its former self...
I'm saying that it's become a grotesque Mike-Benz-adjacent parody...
I'm saying that it's become a grotesque Mike-Benz-adjacent parody...
Reposted by Berin Szóka
Imagine being so far gone into Trumpism/Republicanism that you would say this to someone who was shot in the head in an act of political violence.
MAGA legal world, man…
Gorsuch and Grassley should be so proud.
Gorsuch and Grassley should be so proud.
November 30, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Imagine being so far gone into Trumpism/Republicanism that you would say this to someone who was shot in the head in an act of political violence.
But calling everyone MAGA hates a "communist" is totally cool
Of course, under Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), both are protected by the First Amendment because neither ”is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action"
Of course, under Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), both are protected by the First Amendment because neither ”is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action"
Elon Musk, the guy who did two Nazi salutes in public and has previously described himself as a “free speech absolutist,” thinks it should be a crime to “falsely” call someone a Nazi or a fascist.
November 27, 2025 at 11:51 AM
But calling everyone MAGA hates a "communist" is totally cool
Of course, under Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), both are protected by the First Amendment because neither ”is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action"
Of course, under Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), both are protected by the First Amendment because neither ”is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action"
Reposted by Berin Szóka
This is how you do it.
BREAKING Jair Bolsonaro, convicted of attempting a military coup and the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, is ordered today to begin his 27-year sentence
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Bolsonaro out of appeals; will start 27-year sentence for coup attempt
The former Brazilian president will begin his sentence in a specially prepared cell at federal police headquarters in Brasília.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 AM
This is how you do it.
Extortion requires, more than anything, utter shamelessness—like not caring at all what the Supreme Court has said about the First Amendment or whether your filings are accurate or whether you obey basic FCC rules ajout disclosing your meetings with the FCC Chair
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Meet the conservative lawyer causing headaches for major news networks
Critics are concerned that Daniel Suhr, the head of a conservative legal group, may be pulling the strings behind many of the Trump FCC’s moves
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Extortion requires, more than anything, utter shamelessness—like not caring at all what the Supreme Court has said about the First Amendment or whether your filings are accurate or whether you obey basic FCC rules ajout disclosing your meetings with the FCC Chair
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Berin Szóka
"I’m not sure people have fully integrated the transformation America has undergone: One of America’s political parties is now on the side of various autocrats; and more or less half of America’s voters either agree with this position, or do not object to it."
www.thebulwark.com/p/america-he...
www.thebulwark.com/p/america-he...
America’s Heel Turn
Whose side are we on?
www.thebulwark.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
"I’m not sure people have fully integrated the transformation America has undergone: One of America’s political parties is now on the side of various autocrats; and more or less half of America’s voters either agree with this position, or do not object to it."
www.thebulwark.com/p/america-he...
www.thebulwark.com/p/america-he...