EUROPE FREE PRESS: ‘The most puzzling political development in the last decade is the determination of Western European leaders. They seem intent on re-creating the Soviet Union in Western Europe.’ ~ Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet President.

Brussels seeks to curb the spread of information it falsely claims could erode trust in democratic systems.

NOTE: Let us recall that decisions made by the bloc are those of its two presidents and 27 appointed commissioners. None of these officials is elected in a conventional sense. The bloc’s parliament of 720 deputies has only an advisory role.

The European Union plans to launch a centralized hub. This hub will monitor and dispute what it calls foreign disinformation. This is according to a leaked document that was seen by the media.

Critics have long warned that Brussels’ initiatives amount to the institutionalization of a censorship regime.

The European Commission has a proposal set to be published on November 12. The so-called Centre for Democratic Resilience will function as part of a broader ‘democracy shield’ strategy. This strategy was pitched by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the 2024 European elections.

Participation in the centre will be voluntary. The Commission has welcomed like-minded partners outside the bloc. This includes the UK and countries seeking accession.

The draft accuses Russia of escalating hybrid attacks by disseminating false narratives. It also points to China as another threat. The draft alleges that Beijing uses PR firms and social media influencers to advance its interests across Europe.

‘By spreading deceitful narratives, they try to erode trust in democratic systems. Sometimes this involves the manipulation of historical facts. This could also mean falsifying such facts,’ media cited the document as saying. However, it provided little substantial evidence.

The Commission frames the move as a defensive response to foreign meddling. One example cited is the controversial cancellation of Romania’s 2024 presidential election.

However, Telegram founder Pavel Durov noted it was the EU, namely French intelligence, that pressured him. They wanted him to censor conservative content during elections in Romania and Moldova. He condemned the bloc for waging ’a crusade’ against free speech.

The new center will add to the EU’s growing network of tools to monitor and moderate information. It is expected to work alongside supposedly independent fact-checkers. It may even coordinate with online influencers to promote content aligned with Brussels’ policies.

The proposal fits neatly into the wider enforcement framework of the EU’s Digital Services Act. This act mandates the removal of ’harmful content’. It has drawn fierce criticism from free speech advocates.

Washington, once a partner in joint ’disinformation’ monitoring through the now-defunct Global Engagement Center, has since distanced itself from the EU’s regulatory push.

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The US State Department recently described the bloc’s initiatives as Orwellian. They stated that ‘censorship is not freedom.’ They warned that such measures only serve to shield European leaders ’from their own people.’

‘If you’re running in fear of your own voters, America cannot help you.’ US Vice President J.D. Vance told the Munich Security Conference in February, referring to the Romanian election. 

’If your democracy can be destroyed by a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, it wasn’t very strong. It wasn’t very strong to begin with.’

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