Chairman Jim Jordan Leads Delegation on Free Speech in Europe
WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) recently led a bipartisan group of committee members to Brussels, Belgium; London, United Kingdom; and Dublin, Ireland, to meet with EU and UK government officials, American companies, free speech advocates, and other stakeholders.
"Nothing we heard in Europe eased our concerns about the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, or Online Safety Act," said Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH). "These sweeping regulations create a serious chilling effect on free expression and threaten the First Amendment rights of American citizens and companies. We absolutely need to protect children and keep harmful, illegal content off these platforms—but when governments or bureaucracies suppress speech in the name of safety or regulation, it sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the core of Western democratic values."
"America innovates, China replicates, then Europe regulates," said Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chairman Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI). "That was a recurring theme in just about every meeting we had during this CODEL. American companies based in Europe are frustrated, but we were able to gather a lot of valuable information and feedback."
"It’s critical that we stay aligned with our European allies on protecting free speech," said Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA). "Unfortunately, Europe has veered off course—and to be frank, the United States did too in recent years under the Biden Administration. But thanks to the work of the Judiciary Committee, we’ve made real progress, and we’re here to help ensure that progress extends beyond our borders."
"I’m also deeply concerned about how laws like the Digital Markets Act are being weaponized against American companies—many of them based in California," Congressman Kevin Kiley continued. "This kind of overreach doesn’t just burden innovation; it effectively shifts wealth from the U.S. to Europe. That’s not something we can ignore, and it should be front and center in future U.S.–EU negotiations. We’re going to make sure the administration hears that loud and clear."
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