Europe concerned about Donald Trump's ban on social media

The European digital commissioner, Thierry Breton, is puzzled because there is no democratic control.

Here in Brussels, December 16, 2020. REUTERS - POOL

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2 min

While the impeachment procedure for the President of the United States has been initiated, social networks Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch and Snapchat have all suspended Donald Trump's accounts since the Capitol invasion.

In Europe, as much the condemnation was unanimous after the calls for violence and the invasion of the Capitol in Washington, as the concern is great in front of decisions seen as ukase and attacks on freedom of expression.

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With our office in Brussels,

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sees

Donald Trump's ban on

social networks as a problem of freedom of expression that should be the responsibility of the law and not of companies.

The European digital commissioner, Thierry Breton, is puzzled because there is no democratic control.

And according to the French Minister of the Economy, this is a threat from the digital oligarchy of internet giants against popular sovereignty and that of states.

A position which reflects the general opinion of the French political class.

The main problem for Europeans is that the decision to suspend the account of the President of the United States was made based on internal company policies, their own assessment of Donald Trump's words and not based on a legal framework.

The decisions may well have been motivated by the desire to ban calls to violence, they remain purely internal decisions.

The European Union for its part is examining the legislative proposals made by the Commission a month ago with the leitmotif that what is illegal in reality also becomes illegal on the internet.

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Also to listen: Should we cut off politicians who are free from reality?

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