Jourová’s Solution to Protecting Free Speech: Ban Twitter

In an interview for the Czech national broadcaster the Czech Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency had signaled that the social media giant Twitter could be banned in the EU if it does not sign the “voluntary” code of conduct. Vera Jourová claimed that this is indeed necessary to protect free speech and against disinformation.

During a recent meeting with representatives of technology companies, Jourová claimed that Europe is in an information war with Russia. “We are being flooded with disinformation campaigns, it is not gossip or nasty words on the internet. These are targeted campaigns to disrupt free elections and manipulate people. Companies, as part of a voluntary agreement, sign up to target these things,” she added.

However, social network Twitter, for example, is not taking part in the negotiations and has also left the voluntary code on misinformation, she complained.

We have taken note of that. Twitter knows full well that it will be hit by tough regulation on disinformation and illegal content, which is due to come into force this August,”

said the European Commission Vice-President.

Twitter owner Elon Musk is said to be in favor of the principle of free speech without restriction as described in the US constitution, but European countries restrict free speech when it comes to illegal content such as terrorism, Holocaust denial, endorsement of aggression or child pornography, she said.

“In Europe we have such a horrific historical experience that the Holocaust started with words that there simply has to be regulation,” Jourová said, adding that the EU will monitor Twitter’s compliance with the rules. “It could mean the end of Twitter in Europe,” she admitted.

Since Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter in October 2022 and his relaxing of the rules in terms of free speech on the social network, Twitter has come under increasing attacks from certain political circles for allegedly being a hub for disinformation. Musk’s endorsement of some Republican politics had convinced progressive opinion-makers and officials that the network had irrevocable slipped out from under their previous control. Twitter’s earlier notorious practice of banning mainstream conservative and center-right politicians or news portal’s from their site had largely, though not entirely, stopped since Musk’s take-over.

Yet as Jourová’s case shows, under the guise of fighting disinformation and extremist propaganda, the EU is targeting views that are not entirely aligned with the officially sanctioned narrative on the war in Ukraine. Where the drive is heading can best be demonstrated on Jourová’s home country Czechia, where people are being handed jail sentences for expressing views that are deemed pro-Russian.

A few months ago a Czech school teacher has been fired and is now facing jail term for allegedly “defending genocide” after a student’s complaint that she accused Ukrainian’s of killing people in the Donbas, and that on a certain date “there was no ongoing incident in Kyiv”.  The teacher, Martina Bednárová, denied that she was defending Russia’s actions and explained that she was trying to offer a balanced view of the conflict in the East. Similar trials conducted by Czech Prosecutor-General Igor Stříž have so far seen nine people convicted, and 58 people charged for allegedly approving of Russia’s aggression. Criminal investigations have so far been launched in 90 cases.

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