Rubio Launches Diplomatic Push Against EU Digital Services Act

Marco Rubio has initiated a diplomatic campaign to challenge the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), according to a Reuters-reviewed cable. The directive, dated 4 August, instructs U.S. embassies to lobby European officials for amendments or repeal of the legislation. The DSA, enacted earlier this year, imposes stringent content moderation requirements on major tech platforms, targeting hate speech, misinformation, and child abuse material.

Washington perceives the regulations as overly burdensome, citing excessive compliance costs and restrictions on free expression. The cable frames the DSA as a threat to U.S. corporate interests and urges diplomats to document instances of alleged censorship—ranging from legal actions to social media suspensions involving American entities.

The State Department declined to comment, while the EU tech commissioner's office has yet to respond. This clash underscores growing transatlantic tensions over digital governance, with the U.S. positioning itself as a defender of tech industry interests against European regulatory ambitions.