US Building Online Portal to Bypass European Content Bans

The State Department is developing a portal with possible VPN features to make user traffic appear to originate in the US.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The US government is developing an online portal called "freedom.gov" to allow citizens in Europe and elsewhere to circumvent internet restrictions imposed by their countries. The service would also allow access to content that has been classified and banned by the respective governments as hate speech or terrorist propaganda. Washington views this as a measure against censorship, according to three people familiar with the plans.

Why it matters

This move by the US government is seen as a direct challenge to European countries' efforts to regulate online content and combat the spread of misinformation and extremist rhetoric. It raises questions about national sovereignty, internet governance, and the global debate over free speech versus content moderation.

The details

The portal would potentially include virtual private network (VPN) features that would make user traffic appear to originate in the US, bypassing restrictions imposed by European governments. This would allow access to banned or censored content that these countries have deemed harmful or illegal.

  • The US State Department is currently developing the "freedom.gov" portal.

The players

US State Department

The federal department responsible for conducting American diplomacy and foreign policy.

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What’s next

The State Department is expected to launch the "freedom.gov" portal in the coming months, though an exact timeline has not been announced.

The takeaway

This move by the US government highlights the ongoing global tensions over internet regulation, free speech, and national sovereignty. It remains to be seen how European countries will respond to this effort to circumvent their content moderation policies.