Tag: eu

EU Officials Pressure Meta and X to Enforce Censorship: Threats Linked to “Fact-Checkers” and Disinformation Investigations

This week’s statement by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and the realization that Meta’s policy shift regarding free speech on the giant’s social platforms doesn’t necessarily end with the US – is clearly sending shivers down the spine of a particular political class in Europe.

The one that, at least currently, gets to do all the talking – and gets that talking reported as gospel by legacy media.

And so, officials in a number of EU countries as well as some members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are scrambling to respond to Meta’s announcement – in a way, it seems, simply as an emergency measure to protect their narrow political, rather than what may be their nations’ long term, greater interest.

The people’s interest, meanwhile, is always the same: being able to speak freely as the very first point of assurance, that we do indeed, live in a democratic way.

But – the bureaucracy obviously has a different agenda.

Meta, as the first of the true tech giants to “turn the free speech ship around” does appear to be following in the footsteps of what Twitter/X has already been doing for several years.

And Meta’s change in policy is, in the grand scheme of things, still minor – Meta is simply now dropping the notorious third-party “fact-checkers.”

But, a number of EU officials and representatives of various agencies are wasting no time making themselves and their priorities known. And free speech, by way of welcoming less online censorship, does not come across as any priority.

Instead, they are warning Meta against abandoning the services of the “Censorship Central” – aka, “fact-checkers” – while at the same time looking to “energetically” pursue the existing investigation against X.

German Federal Network Agency head Klaus Muller is one of those appearing to be trying to stem the free speech tide, all the way to threatening to impose “sanctions” against Meta – should the company decide to extend its new, freedom-respecting policies to Europeans, after Americans start enjoying this privilege first.

Keep reading

The EU’s Need For Cheap Ukrainian Labor Imperils Ukraine’s Post-War Reconstruction

Forthcoming developments might lead to Germany and/or Poland, where over two million of them collectively reside, either encouraging their return or incentivizing them to stay.

Zelensky has finally begun to think about his country’s post-war reconstruction plans as suggested by what he said late last week with regard to the need for Ukrainian refugees to return once the conflict ends. The challenge though is that he also accused unnamed EU countries of exploiting his citizens as cheap labor, and if they allow them to remain there, then Ukraine will struggle to rebuild. Here are his exact words, which will then be analyzed in the larger context of this conflict’s rapidly evolving dynamics:

“Let’s be honest: There are many Ukrainians abroad. In some countries, they have been seen as a cheap labor force. And now, they realize Ukrainians are often more skilled than their own citizens. I say: ‘Look, give me a bit more air defense, and I’ll tell everyone to come back immediately. And they reply, ‘No, let those who work here stay, but the rest should return.”

For starters, the immediate context concerns the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ desertion rate, which the Associated Press estimated to be more than 100,000 since February 2022. Zelensky also acknowledged this problem late last week but downplayed it at the same time. Nevertheless, it’s clear that his generals must urgently replenish these losses as well as those from the battlefield, ergo the latest report from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) about how they might soon drop the draft age to 18.

These immediate military imperatives can be exploited by the EU as the humanitarian pretext for not deporting Ukrainian refugees in order to keep them in the bloc so that they can either remain as cheap labor or soon become it. Accordingly, it’s unlikely that any of them will make any serious moves to repatriate them so long as the conflict continues, but it’s also possible that it might end later this year. That’s because Trump campaigned on doing so and Zelensky just suggested that he thinks it’s possible.

Speculation about the timeframe and terms aside, the latter of which could include some of the two dozen compromises that were recently proposed at the end of this analysis here, the end of the conflict could then instantly lead to more grassroots pressure upon EU governments to encourage those refugees to return. The two countries where this might soon become a pressing issue are Germany and Poland, which have around 1.2 million and 988,000 Ukrainian refugees respectively.

Keep reading

Elon Musk’s AfD Endorsement Triggers EU Push for Stricter Censorship Under Digital Services Act

Elon Musk’s endorsement of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has sparked significant controversy, particularly among European political figures concerned about the potential for what they call “foreign interference” in Germany’s upcoming elections.

Musk, the CEO of X, voiced his support for some of AfD’s policies following a deadly terror attack in Germany. His comments have raised alarm among EU officials, prompting calls for increased scrutiny of the X app and its compliance with the EU’s stringent censorship laws.

Thierry Breton, the European Union’s former Commissioner, took to X to express his outrage over Musk’s support for AfD. In a tweet posted on December 21, Breton accused Musk of being involved in “foreign interference” in Germany’s electoral process, especially given the timing of his comments around the tragic attack in Magdeburg.

Breton, who has been an advocate for strict censorship of social media platforms, and even threatened Elon Musk for over his interview with President Donald Trump, also called for the immediate application of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) to combat what he described as “double standards” when it comes to regulating speech online.

Keep reading

Following Japan, Europe Set to Approve Exotic New Self-Amplifying RNA ‘Vaccine’ Technology That May ‘Vaccinate’ Others Via Shedding

On Thursday the European Union’s medicine committee recommended marketing authorization of a novel exotic technology referred to as ‘self-amplifying RNA vaccines’ or ‘replicon vaccines’. Called Kostaive, it is reportedly for ‘protection’ against Covid. In October Japan became the first country on earth to begin injecting their population with the new shot.

“On 12 December 2024, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Kostaive, a vaccine intended for the prevention of COVID-19 in adults,” the European Medicines Agency said Thursday.

Unlike the notorious mRNA gene therapy injections used to ‘combat’ Covid, which make the vaccinated individual’s body produce an antigen (the spike protein in the case of the Covid shots) the new saRNA vaccines go a step further, making the body replicate the replication mechanism itself. Traditional (real) vaccines contain the antigen, which is intended to illicit an immune response in the body, unlike mRNA vaccines which make the body itself produce the antigen, which is then intended to illicit an immune response. Traditional vaccines also contain neurotoxins such as aluminum as an adjuvant (to agitate the immune system into action) and mercury as a preservative.

“Kostaive will be available as a powder for dispersion for injection. Kostaive is a RNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (ATC code: J07BN01). It contains a self-amplifying mRNA that encodes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Self-amplifying means that the mRNA also carries instructions to make a protein called replicase. Once administered into a muscle, the replicase protein makes more copies of the mRNA, which the cell can use to make more spike protein. Vaccination with Kostaive induces the production of neutralising antibodies and a cellular immune response targeting the spike protein, which helps protect people against COVID-19,” the European Medicines Agency said Thursday.

The new shot triggers side effects 90 percent of the time.

“During the clinical trials for Kostaive, five deaths were reported among participants in the phase 3b study. Across study phases 1, 2, and 3a combined, 90 percent of injected participants experienced adverse events, with 74.5 percent reporting systemic reactions and 15.2 percent requiring medical attention after the first dose. Notably, many of the study authors are full-time employees of Arcturus Therapeutics, raising concerns about bias in their conclusions,” Lifesite News said Tuesday.

The new technology has been labeled as intrinsically dangerous and even as a bioweapon by some, sparking fears of the vaccine itself spreading to the non-vaccinated population, a step far beyond vaccine shedding.

“The man-made genes in the replicon vaccines, if introduced into humans, are likely to spread not only to other humans but also to other species,” The Expose said in September.

The novel vaccine technology is said to spread like a virus, vaccinating even those who refuse to take their shots.

“So this was a way to have a vaccine that spreads like a virus,” talkshow host Mike Adams said in a May 5, 2021 podcast. “And the research on this has been going on for over three decades.”

Keep reading

Don’t Fall for the Anti-European Psyop

A rootless people are one asking to be conquered by nefarious forces.

Even those who reside in a polity that views it as “exceptional” would be wise to never forget their roots. The story of American conservatism over the last century has been one of embracing creedal nationalism, wherein conservative adherents believe America “is an idea” — a proposition nation of sorts that is “exceptional” among nations due to its commitment to free enterprise, the rule of law, and limited government.

The essence of this can be found in the section of the Declaration of Independence where it spells out “all men are created equal.” For the exponents of the American universalist project, the Union’s triumph over the Confederacy during the Civil War, the U.S.’s victories in the two world wars in the 20th century, and its social engineering projects spanning the New Deal to the Great Society are viewed as ventures to advance the country’s founding principle of equality.

Once the U.S. reached its unipolar moment in the 1990s, American punditry embraced an imperial smugness that would make ancient emperors blush. They viewed the rest of the world, especially the ethnostates of the globe (save Israel of course), as primitive backwaters driven by parochial nationalism and outdated cultural practices.

Such a chauvinistic outlook has permeated down to pundits across the political spectrum. Conservative social media influencer Mike Cernovich’s recent comments about European countries served as a reminder of how deeply ingrained the American exceptionalism fixation is among Americans. In a post on X published on November 24, 2024, Cernovich stated:

Europoor as a meme arose after centuries of unearned snobbery from Europeans. America has better geography, a higher standard of living, and yes better food. Not to mention the total lack of innovation in Europe. They are primitive people.

There’s a growing trend of American political pundits who think they’re slick for attacking Europeans because of their perceived lower standard of living vis-a-vis the U.S. Richard Hanania, a political scientist of “enlightened centrist” orientation, routinely boasts about the U.S.’s economic superiority compared to the Old Continent. In one post on X, Hanania observed, “People in the UK and France are about as wealthy as the United States was in 1990. “

Keep reading

Serbian PM Vučić Says ‘He’s Not Assad’, Vows To Defend His Country, as He Accuses Foreign Intelligence Services of Attempting To Overthrow His Government

In today’s Europe, any leader who maintains neutrality in the West’s push against Russia is potentially an enemy – just ask much-maligned Hungary’s Viktor Orbán or Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was shot several times by an angry leftist back in May and barely survived the vicious attack.

Read about that in Hungary’s Orbán Says That Poland’s Government and PM Tusk Were ‘Installed’ by the European Union To Topple the Previous Populist Leadership – And Now Budapest Is the New Target.

Now, it’s time for the Serbian leader to denounce pretty much the same, as globalists stage protests in the country to pressure President Aleksandar Vučić to resign.

Newsweek reported:

“Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Tuesday he will not flee the country like ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, in response to the protests that continue to spread across his nation.”

Keep reading

European Union to Fingerprint All Travelers, Including Americans Beginning in 2025

Beginning in 2025, travelers entering the European Union, including those from visa-exempt countries such as the United States will be fingerprinted and have a facial recognition image taken under the incoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System’s (ETIAS) Entry/Exit System (EES).

Previously, Americans only needed a passport to visit E.U. countries.

“ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorization,” the EU said on November 11. “With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.”

Part of the ETIAS documentation process includes facial recognition imaging and fingerprint scanning into the EES.

“The Entry/Exit System (EES) will be an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border. The system will register the person’s name, type of the travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit,” the E.U. said on October 9.

The E.U. specified what biometrics will be recorded for visa-exempt travelers, such as those carrying a U.S. passport.

“…the system will store 4 of your fingerprints and your facial image. Currently, the fingerprints of children below 12 years old are not scanned, even if they are subject to the EES,” the E.U. said November 11.

Many travelers will even have to pay to undergo the new process.

“Once the program starts, some 1.4 billion people from the U.S. and dozens of other countries will need ETIAS to enter 30 European countries. The document will cost €7, or about $7.50; however, travelers under 18 years old or over 70 will not have to pay a fee. The ETIAS travel pass will be valid for three consecutive years,” Forbes said in April.

The system will be phased in over six-months beginning in 2025, initially it was planned to go into effect at the same time in all countries. The system was announced in a press release in 2017.

“On Wednesday, the European Commission outlined the phased approach for the digital border scheme and submitted it to the European Parliament and the Council for adoption. Once approved, E.U. member states and the E.U.’s main IT agency EU-LISA will have six months to deploy the EES,” Biometric Update said Friday. “The new announcement signals a change in the E.U.’s plans which originally envisioned deploying the system simultaneously in every country. To allow for a progressive introduction of the border system, the E.U. will have to change the EES Regulation which requires all E.U. member states to start using it simultaneously and for all travelers. The new, adjusted regulation will allow countries to implement the EES gradually.”

The biometric scans will replace passport stamps, similar to concert tickets being replaced by smartphone QR codes.

Keep reading

Democracy Is Dead: A Coup Against Right Wing Movements Is Underway In Europe

In the past, progressive elites were not generally threatened by the campaigns of the old center and center-right parties because those groups have long been managed by fake conservatives with no intention of disturbing the deviation of the Overton Window to the radical left.  But of course, times have changed.  Legitimate opposition to the far-left is rising in the form of political parties fighting for secure borders and anti-wokeness initiatives, and the progressives are furious.

They’ve had a taste of near total power, and though they claim to be the patron saints of Democracy they are openly adopting authoritarian ideals in order to keep that power.  

In the US the far-left has been pursuing an all out propaganda war and has abused the legal system for years as a means to stop conservatives from returning to government.  The lawfare tactics utilized against Donald Trump were unprecedented, but ultimately failed.  In Europe, though, leftists are finding more success.

In Germany the establishment is attempting to ban the increasingly successful AfD Party on the grounds that they represent a “return to fascism”.  Over 100 legislators backed the resolution, though it is unclear if a vote will be taken.  The AfD is the second most popular party in Germany and has recently put a candidate forward for chancellor in the upcoming February elections. 

All other political parties in Germany are variations of the progressive spectrum.  Leftists say that if the AfD gains any significant governmental power they will refuse to work with them, preferring to leave the German government in a state of limbo rather than accept the will of the voters.  It should be noted that Germany’s coalition government is already collapsing and the country is in crisis.

In France, the increasing success of Marine Le Pen and her National Rally Party has been met with extreme derision by the progressive elites.  The establishment under Emmanuel Macron engaged in political chicanery after the National Rally won the first round of the French elections.  The centrists established a coalition with the radical leftists as a way to prevent the right wing from taking power.  The move was technically legal, but considered by many to be an immoral effort to deny conservative French voters a voice.

The elites are also attempting to use lawfare against Le Pen, conjuring charges of misuse of EU funds with the intent to ensure she can’t run in the 2026 elections. As in Germany, it should be noted that the very coalition that was put in place to keep the right wing out of government has now collapsed under a no confidence vote of Prime Minister Barnier and France is currently in crisis. 

Keep reading

EU Pushes for TikTok Clampdown After Romanian Election Upset

When the EU doesn’t like the outcome of an election or a government in a member country, it alarmingly tends to look for explanations in almost every place, except the one that makes sense – the free, democratic will of the voters.

It’s Romania’s turn. Namely, ahead of the second round of presidential elections in that country, the European Parliament (EP) appears to be going the roundabout way in an attempt to delegitimize the first-round victory of independent candidate Calin Georgescu.

And the roundabout way is what looks like a frontal rhetorical assault on TikTok, which some EP members (MEPs) are accusing of failing to live up to the Digital Services Act (DSA) – EU’s censorship law. Specifically now, where it now concerns the Romanian vote and spread of “disinformation” on an alleged scale capable of influencing the result.

A hearing was organized on Tuesday to put pressure on the social platform’s executives, with corporate media describing the MEP’s behavior as “hostile” and “furious” – while Georgescu is casually referred to as an “ultranationalist.”

The Internal Market Committee hearing came after TikTok was blamed by the European Commission for running algorithms that supposedly “disproportionally” promoted content favorable to Georgescu.

TikTok’s representatives told the panel that they are in fact working hard to censor, aka, moderate content in Romania in particular, a market which is said to have the largest number of moderators.

And, in the run-up to elections, a number of “influence campaigns” had been removed from the platform, they told the MEPs. But that’s not what the MEPs wanted to hear.

Keep reading

Europe Considers Troop Deployment to Ukraine, Businesses Told to Prepare For ‘Wartime Scenario’

The world appears to be sleepwalking into World War III, with U.S. leadership noticeably absent. European leaders are beginning to take the lead in Ukraine, but not in a beneficial way.

Firstly, European leaders are in discussions about whether to send their troops to Ukraine to help direct the fighting.

According to the Express:

Britain and France are in talks to send troops to Ukraine to deter Vladimir Putin, it has emerged.

London and Paris want to create a “core of allies in Europe” as fears intensify that President-elect Donald Trump could withdraw military support for Ukraine.

British and French troops could be among European allies deployed to deter the Kremlin from attacking Ukraine again.

This could make European capitals and military installations legitimate targets in the eyes of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his generals.

If Putin were to take action against British or French troops beyond the borders of Ukraine, the USA would be required to respond under mutual defense treaties.

This is not mere speculation; a top NATO official recently warned European business leaders to prepare for a wartime scenario.

Keep reading