Here’s Why Europeans Don't Like Tech's Trump Ban
Longstanding cultural differences have shaped the U.S. and Europe’s stance toward tech companies and online speech.
Photographer: Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images
Hey all, it’s Natalia in Brussels. Technology companies’ swift action against digital misinformation this week has drawn some unlikely opponents: Germany and France.
Last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol prompted Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Snap Inc. to ban the accounts of U.S. president Donald Trump for inciting violence and spreading false information about the country’s November election. This week, European leaders slammed the companies’ decision to expel the president, arguing that elected officials should be the only entities with the power to regulate speech.