House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan is turning up the heat on global tech regulation with a new hearing next week titled — wait for it — “European threats to American free speech and innovation.” And guess who’s flying in as a headline witness? None other than Nigel Farage, the U.K.’s king of controversy and long-time nationalist voice.
This all comes as President Trump keeps rattling the trade saber, warning of tariffs on countries that dare enforce tech laws on U.S. companies. Jordan, never one to miss a fight with “Big Regulation,” has also invited former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton to testify. Breton, however, says he hasn’t even seen the invite yet.
So, what’s at the heart of this transatlantic beef? Europe’s new tech rules. The U.K.’s Online Safety Act (OSA) and the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) — both designed to crack down on harmful content like hate speech and adult material online. Sounds straightforward, right? Not in Washington. Lawmakers like Jordan are framing these laws as direct threats to American free speech, with Republicans especially worried that such regulations could be used to silence conservative voices.
Trump’s administration has already dispatched U.S. diplomats to Europe with talking points attacking the DSA. Reports even suggest he’s weighing sanctions on European officials who enforce it. Yep, sanctions — over content moderation.
Meanwhile, Farage has been blasting the U.K.’s OSA at every chance he gets. When Jordan led a U.S. delegation to Europe earlier this summer, Farage even got into a shouting match with Rep. Jamie Raskin, calling him “pig-headed” over Trump’s free speech claims.
And this isn’t just political theater. The OSA is already flexing beyond U.K. borders. U.S.-based platforms like Reddit and X have had to age-gate certain communities for U.K. users, while regulators in London have been sending letters demanding U.S. companies conduct “illegal content risk assessments” — with threats of fines and criminal penalties if they don’t.
Bottom line? Europe’s big bet on online safety is colliding head-on with America’s obsession over free speech. And next week’s hearing will put that clash on full display — with tariffs, sanctions, and maybe even meme wars hanging in the balance.
About the Author
