Epic, U.s. Civil Society Groups, Call On Eu Leaders To Stand Up For Digital Rights

Today, in a letter sent to multiple European leaders, EPIC and other U.S. civil society organizations called on Europe to hold firm against attempts by the U.S. administration and tech industry to weaken EU digital regulation and enforcement.

This action comes after years of vocal criticism from the Trump administration over EU digital regulation efforts, framing EU laws that protect personal data and digital rights (and enforcement of those laws) as targeted attacks on U.S. businesses. The EU’s “simplification” proposal has added fuel to these arguments as U.S. leadership frames the proposal as evidence that EU laws do not function well and stifle innovation. A new report examining if the DSA “stifles” American speech and bills attempting to exempt U.S. companies from EU laws continue this attack.

U.S. civil society groups have been fighting these narratives for years, constantly pointing out that, far from “stifling innovation” or “damaging markets,” laws that protect people and their data from manipulation, exploitation, and mounting technological harms are necessary and beneficial both for people and businesses, creating clear expectations and a more even playing field. Modifying already-passed regulations would only benefit companies who had no intention of complying in the first place, leaving complying companies to eat the costs of their efforts and leaving individuals unclear on their rights and protections.

“The U.S. administration and tech industry have attempted to frame protecting digital rights as an attack on the U.S. and its businesses,” said Calli Schroeder, EPIC Senior Counsel. “Privacy is a fundamental human right and the U.S. government’s failure to protect that right cannot and should not result in the rest of the world lowering their own standards.”

The signees call on EU leadership to stand up for digital and privacy rights, to back their own laws, and to refuse attempts to soften or weaken them.

EPIC regularly engages in discussion of international policy and human rights, from coalition letters to analysis to submitting comments to international regulatory agencies.