US launches portal to circumvent European Internet restrictions
The US State Department is developing an online portal intended to provide access to content that has been banned by governments in Europe and other regions, Reuters reports. The initiative, led by Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, is designed to counter what Washington regards as censorship.
The portal, provisionally dubbed ‘freedom.gov’, may include a virtual private network feature to mask users’ locations, making their traffic appear to originate in the United States. Officials stress that user activity on the site will not be tracked.
Although the unveiling was initially planned for the Munich Security Conference, the launch was postponed. Sources suggest that legal objections within the State Department over the implications of the project may have contributed to the delay.
The initiative could further damage relations between the Trump administration and its European allies, already strained by disagreements over trade, Russia’s actions in Ukraine and US interest in Greenland. The portal also raises concerns that the US appears to be encouraging its citizens to ignore local laws.
While the State Department acknowledges that digital freedom is a priority, a spokesperson denied the existence of a specific programme aimed at bypassing censorship in Europe. He also rejected claims of delayed announcements and legal objections within the department.
The Trump administration has consistently portrayed itself as a champion of free speech, particularly regarding the suppression of conservative voices online, in Europe and beyond. That stance contrasts with the European approach to freedom of expression, which emphasises restrictions designed to prevent a resurgence of the extremist ideologies that fuelled Nazism.
US officials have criticised EU policies they view as repressive towards right-wing politicians, citing regulations such as the Digital Services Act and the Online Safety Act as examples of excessive limits on freedom of expression.
EU regulation is aimed primarily at social media platforms and large online entities, which are required to remove content designated as illegal hate speech, terrorist propaganda or harmful disinformation.
Rogers has emerged as a vocal advocate of the US position on EU content policy. She has visited numerous European countries and built contacts with representatives of right-wing groups that the administration believes are being suppressed.
The Trump Administration’s national security strategy expresses concern about the “disappearance of civilisation” in Europe as a result of migration policy, and pledges support for resistance to what is seen as Europe’s current course.
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