The United States has intensified its criticism of European efforts to regulate American technology companies, accusing Dutch watchdogs and non-governmental organisations of effectively censoring US firms under European digital laws.

Report Claims Digital Services Act Suppresses Free Speech

In a report published by the US House of Representatives’ Justice Committee on Tuesday, lawmakers argued that the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) amounts to censorship and limits Americans’ right to free expression. According to the committee, the law has been used to suppress “true information and political speech” on contentious topics such as COVID-19, migration and transgender rights.

The 160-page document includes a section on the Netherlands, highlighting a meeting organised by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) ahead of the 2025 Dutch parliamentary elections. The committee claims this meeting — which involved experts and various campaign groups — was part of an effort to restrict free speech rather than simply regulate online platforms.

Dutch Groups Labeled “Censorious NGOs”

Alongside the ACM, the report names Dutch civil society organisations that attended the meeting — including digital rights group Bits of Freedom and the foundation Justice for Prosperity — describing them as “censorious NGOs.” According to the US lawmakers, both regulators and NGOs pushed platforms to take significant content moderation steps before the election.

Strong Reactions in the Netherlands

Critics in the Netherlands have pushed back strongly against the accusations. Jelle Postma, director of Justice for Prosperity, told de Volkskrant that the US report is “a deliberate attack on our democratic rule of law.” He argued that the United States is trying to undermine the legitimacy of European lawmakers, regulators and civil society organisations. “This is pure intimidation,” Postma said, adding that American tech companies operating in Europe must still comply with European laws.

Broader Context of US-EU Tech Tensions

The Justice Committee’s report also comes amid broader tensions between the United States and Europe over tech regulation. Brussels has already fined platforms like X (formerly Twitter) for failing to meet transparency requirements under the DSA, and US lawmakers have suggested they may investigate what they see as foreign interference in US innovation and free speech.