EU Targets Bible, Free Speech Through Digital Services Act, Lawyer Warns

Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Lorcan Price testifies on European efforts to enforce speech standards globally

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Lorcan Price warned U.S. lawmakers that the European Union's Digital Services Act is no longer a theoretical threat to free speech, but is actively being used to pressure American companies into enforcing European speech standards worldwide. Price cited major fines and ongoing investigations targeting U.S. firms, arguing the EU has a multi-pronged strategy to impose its censorship campaign globally.

Why it matters

The Digital Services Act represents a broader effort by European authorities to control online speech and apply those standards internationally, potentially impacting free expression and religious freedom in the U.S. and beyond.

The details

Price said the EU's approach has shifted from speculation to enforcement, citing major fines and ongoing investigations targeting U.S. firms like X Corporation. He described the Digital Services Act as part of a "censorship industrial complex" involving multiple investigations, expanding regulations, and heavy financial penalties to force American companies to act as "global censorship police" under European standards. Price warned that noncompliance can result in prolonged investigations and crippling fines, with European regulators considering even quoting Bible verses as "illegal content".

  • On the last occasion that we spoke, we were speaking in the theoretical it may cause censorship.
  • However, now it's unmistakable that it has indeed caused the censorship that we warned of.
  • The enormous fines levied on X corporation by the European Commission since the last hearing have proved beyond all doubt that the European Union means to strangle free speech.
  • The French police raided X's offices in Paris just this week.
  • The Spanish Prime Minister has announced criminal liability against company owners for so called hate speech.

The players

Lorcan Price

An Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer who testified before U.S. lawmakers about the European Union's Digital Services Act and its impact on free speech.

Graham Lunhan

Another individual who testified alongside Lorcan Price.

Paivi Rasnan

A client of Lorcan Price who was involved in a case in Finland related to European speech laws.

X Corporation

A U.S. company that has faced major fines from the European Commission for alleged violations of the Digital Services Act.

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What they’re saying

“However, now it's unmistakable that it has indeed caused the censorship that we warned of. We have moved from theory to practice.”

— Lorcan Price, Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer (lifezette.com)

“The enormous fines levied on X corporation by the European Commission. Since the last hearing, has proved beyond all doubt that the European Union means to strangle free speech by a systemic assault on US companies.”

— Lorcan Price, Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer (lifezette.com)

“Illegal content can mean calling a German politician an idiot or posting, as we know, a Bible verse.”

— Lorcan Price, Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer (lifezette.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case against X Corporation will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the company to continue operating in the EU market.

The takeaway

The EU's Digital Services Act represents a concerning expansion of European speech regulations that threatens to undermine free expression and religious freedom globally, as American companies are pressured to enforce these standards worldwide or face crippling fines and investigations.