Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2024
https://ericzuesse.substack.com/p/the-eu-needs-to-learn-what-democracy
https://theduran.com/the-eu-needs-to-learn-what-democracy-is-and-what-dictatorship-is/
The EU needs to learn what democracy is, and what dictatorship is.
Eric Zuesse (blogs at https://theduran.com/author/eric-zuesse/)
On August 12th, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner who is the EU’s censorship czar, lettered to Elon Musk,
https://x.com/ThierryBreton/status/1823033048109367549
Thierry Breton
@ThierryBreton
With great audience comes greater responsibility #DSA
As there is a risk of amplification of potentially harmful content in 🇪🇺 in connection with events with major audience around the world, I sent this letter to
@elonmusk:
Dear Mr. Musk,
I am writing to you in the context of recent events in the United Kingdom and in relation to the planned broadcast on your platform X of a live conversation between a US presidential candidate and yourself, which will also be accessible to users in the EU.
I understand that you are currently soing a stress test of the platform. In this context, I am compelled to remind you of the due diligence obligations set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA), as outlined in my previous letter. As the individual entity ultimately controlling a platform with over 300 million users worldwide, of which one third [are] in the EU, that has been designated as a Very Large Online Platform, you have the legal obligation to ensure X’s compliance with EU law and in particular the DSA in the EU.
This notably means ensuring, on one hand, that the freedom of expression and of information, including media freedom and pluralism, are effectively protected and, on the other hand, that all proportionate and effective mitigation measures are put in place regarding the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including live streaming, which, if unaddressed, might increse the risk profile of X and generate deterimental effects on civic discourse and public security. This is important against the background of recent examples of public unrest brought about by the amplification of content that promotes hatred, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation.
It also implies i) informing EU judicial and administrative authorities without undue delay on the measures taken to address their orders against content considered illegal, according to national and/ or or EU laws, ii) taking timely, diligent, non-arbitrary and objective action upon receipt of notices by users considering certain content illegal, iii) informing users concerning the measures taken upon receipt of the relevant notice, and iv) publicly reporting about content moderation measures. …
As you know, formal proceedings are already ongoing against X under the DSA, notably in areas linked to the dissemination of illegal content and the effectiveness of the measures taken to combat disinformation. …
My services and I will be extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the DSA, and will not hesitate to make full use of our toolbox … to protect EU citizens from serious harm.
Yours sincerely,
Thierry Breton
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First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
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Elon Musk is a citizen of the United States and practices the freedoms that its First Amendment promises to everyone within the United States. He has now been threatened by the EU against doing what is legal in the United States. If the Constitution of a particular dictatorship, such as the EU, punishes him for exercising his freedom as an American, then must not the U.S. Government defend him? Is he not owed that, by his government?
I recognize that the U.S. Government is a dictatorship (controlled collectively by billionaires such as Musk) and prolifically violates its own Constitution; and I recognize that the EU was itself set up by America’s own CIA in order for the U.S. regime to control European nations as America’s colonies and had no real interest in providing freedom and independence to Europeans but instead wanted to dictate those nations’ foreign policies and rape their sovereignty. However, unlike the favors that Trump as President will be providing to Musk and which Musk is purchasing from him by his huge donations to his campaign, the U.S. Government will be legally required by its own Constitution to punish the EU if it carries through and punishes Musk for exercising his most-basic freedoms as an American. Unlike the political bribery that is now so routine in the U.S., that would be a Constitutional necessity, wouldn’t it?
If Musk will cave in to the EU’s demand, then he will censoring-out that same material from X in all countries — depriving even Americans from considering those statements. He will then be an agent of the EU — a profoundly pro-imperialistic (i.e., favorable toward the American empire) colonial Government. THAT (scummy) Government will be censoring what AMERICANS will be able to consider. Mr. Breton makes the false assumption that HE knows what is “information” versus what is “disinformation.” Stalin and Hitler did likewise. That CAN’T be democracy. In a democracy, ONLY the citizen him-herself has the right to make that decision for her-himself.
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Investigative historian Eric Zuesse’s latest book, AMERICA’S EMPIRE OF EVIL: Hitler’s Posthumous Victory, and Why the Social Sciences Need to Change, is about how America took over the world after World War II in order to enslave it to U.S.-and-allied billionaires. Their cartels extract the world’s wealth by control of not only their ‘news’ media but the social ‘sciences’ — duping the public.
