Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, answering a parliamentary question from Renew MEP Yvan Verougstraete, declined to comment on the planned US-backed 'freedom.gov' portal, which reportedly aims to offer EU citizens a VPN to circumvent EU digital laws. Virkkunen stated the Commission does not speculate on design or intent and does not block websites in the EU, noting that only member state authorities may block illegal content under national or EU law. She reaffirmed the Commission's responsibility to enforce the Digital Services Act effectively and without discrimination.
Virkkunen's answer, delivered on behalf of the Commission, provides no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or new policy measures. It is a declarative statement of existing legal principles, avoiding any direct confrontation with the US initiative. The response signals a cautious, legally grounded approach, emphasising that enforcement lies with member states rather than the EU level.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up The answer reflects a defensive posture: the Commission does not wish to escalate tensions with the US administration over a project that could be framed as a free-speech tool. Instead, it reiterates the existing legal framework, implying that if the portal facilitates illegal content, member states can act. No new legislative or enforcement actions are announced. The Commission is likely to monitor the situation and rely on the DSA's mechanisms, such as risk assessments for very large platforms, rather than direct confrontation. The absence of a timeline or specific steps suggests a wait-and-see approach, with any future action dependent on actual breaches of EU law by the portal or its users.
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