Quoting Scripture Now a Hate Crime? EU Targets Bible, Free Speech, and X [WATCH]

Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Lorcan Price warned lawmakers that the European Union’s Digital Services Act is no longer a theoretical threat to free speech but is actively being used to pressure American companies into enforcing European speech standards worldwide.

Price made the remarks while addressing members of Congress, where he discussed the impact of the Digital Services Act and related regulations on U.S.-based technology companies and American First Amendment rights.

He said the EU’s approach has shifted from speculation to enforcement, citing major fines and ongoing investigations targeting U.S. firms.

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“Thank you very much. Chairman Jordan, Ranking Member, Raskin, distinguished members of the committee. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m delighted to share the panel today with fellow Irishman, Graham lunhan,” Price said. “I’m not a comedy writer, so I won’t make a joke about two Irishmen who walk into Congress. Of course, I might be arrested on returning to London, as you did experience, Graham.”

Price also referenced other individuals affected by European speech laws, including a client involved in a case in Finland.

“I’m also delighted to share it with our client, paivi rasnan, who will speak in due course about her ordeal in Finland,” he said.

Price recalled earlier testimony in which concerns about the Digital Services Act were raised as a potential risk rather than a concrete outcome.

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“On the last occasion that we spoke, ladies and gentlemen on this subject, we had a discussion on the censorship potential of the EU’s Digital Services Act, and at that point, we were speaking in the theoretical it may cause censorship,” Price said.

“However, now it’s unmistakable that it has indeed caused the censorship that we warned of. We have moved from theory to practice.”

He described the Digital Services Act as part of a broader effort by European authorities to control online speech and apply those standards internationally.

“There can be no doubt that the European Digital Services Act is the tip of a massive censorship industrial complex,” Price said.

Price cited fines imposed on X Corporation as evidence of the EU’s enforcement strategy.

“The enormous fines levied on X corporation by the European Commission. Since the last hearing, has proved beyond all doubt that the European Union means to strangle free speech by a systemic assault on US companies,” he said.

According to Price, the EU’s strategy involves multiple investigations, expanding regulations, and heavy financial penalties.

“The EU has a multi pronged strategy to open multiple investigations, to add more and more regulations and to impose crippling fines, and ultimately, I fear, to attempt to break up or ban companies such as x who are pro free speech,” he said.

Price said the effort goes beyond Europe and is intended to impose European speech rules globally.

“This censorship campaign is not just aimed at destroying free speech in Europe. It’s about imposing European laws globally,” he said.

He argued that American companies are being forced into the role of global content moderators under EU standards.

“US companies are therefore transformed into a global censorship police they must engage in a process of analyzing, quote, how platform design algorithms and content moderation impacts public debate, misinformation and media pluralism,” Price said.

Price warned that noncompliance can result in prolonged investigations and financial penalties.

“If they don’t comply, then they face possibly endless investigations and crippling fines,” he said.

He provided examples of what European regulators consider illegal content.

“Illegal content can mean calling a German politician an idiot or posting, as we know, a Bible verse,” Price said.

Price also referenced additional enforcement actions in Europe, including law enforcement activity in France and policy announcements in Spain.

“We saw that the French police raided ex’s offices in Paris just this week, and the Spanish Prime Minister has announced criminal liability against company owners for so called hate speech,” he said.

Price said fines imposed on American companies have become routine.

“I think it’s fair to say that it’s become a point where the European Union has fines of American companies as a line item in their annual budget,” he said.

“Last year, three, roughly 3.8 billion euro was levied in fines against us, companies.”

He concluded by urging American companies to resist pressure to adopt EU speech rules.

“What I would say to our American friends, is you cannot allow the EU’s rules on hate speech to be imposed on the entire digital world via the DSA,” Price said.

“The threat is real, and it is with us now.”

Price ended his remarks by thanking the committee and expressing readiness for further discussion.

“Thank you very much, and I look forward to our discussion,” he said.

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