Foreign influence and malign interference are most often associated with adversarial actors such as Russia or China. Yet there are also areas in which US-based actors—both public and private—exercise pressure on European decision- and policymakers in comparable ways. Disputes over freedom of speech, censorship, and digital rights have become a new front line in transatlantic relations, particularly in debates surrounding the regulation of the digital single market.
While European regulatory efforts are frequently framed as censorship, for EU politicians and policymakers they represent a necessary step to establish clear rules of the game in the digital space and to safeguard democratic integrity. The discussion should not be reduced to a binary culture war. Liberal approaches to regulation and democratic resilience deserve serious consideration, especially at a time when elections, public debate, and institutional trust are increasingly exposed to external pressure.
Liberal Solutions
1. Establish clear and predictable rules for the digital single market
A core liberal response lies in the creation of a transparent and predictable regulatory framework for the EU’s digital single market. Rather than relying on informal political pressure or voluntary platform self-regulation, clear and enforceable rules define acceptable behaviour for dominant digital platforms and search engines. Legal certainty strengthens democratic governance while ensuring fair competition and equal application of the law.
2. Defend democratic and electoral integrity through regulation
Recent electoral experiences across Europe demonstrate the growing vulnerability of democratic processes to digital manipulation and external influence. Liberal solutions therefore include safeguards that limit the ability of digital platforms to distort political competition, amplify disinformation, or enable covert pressure campaigns, particularly during election periods.
3. Balance freedom of expression with responsibility
Freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of liberal democracy, but it cannot be detached from responsibility in the digital sphere. When unregulated platforms become tools for manipulation, coercion, or systemic disinformation, proportionate regulation is required. Measures such as the Digital Services Act should be understood not as censorship, but as rules-based mechanisms that protect open debate while preventing abuse.
4. Protect European autonomy against external political and economic pressure
A liberal approach also emphasises the importance of European autonomy. Reducing structural dependence on foreign political or corporate actors limits the capacity of external governments to leverage private companies in order to undermine EU rules. Common European standards help prevent regulatory disputes from being externalised or politicised through bilateral pressure.
5. Keep the debate open, pluralistic, and value-driven
Finally, liberal democracy depends on open and pluralistic debate. Regulatory efforts must therefore remain transparent, accountable, and rooted in democratic values and the rule of law. Public discussion about digital regulation, transatlantic relations, and fundamental rights should be encouraged, not suppressed, within a clearly defined institutional framework.
Together, these liberal solutions offer a middle path between digital laissez-faire and excessive state control. A rules-based, value-driven approach can strengthen Europe’s democratic resilience, protect electoral integrity, and preserve fundamental freedoms in an increasingly contested digital environment.
This is an edited excerpt from a chapter of the Project: Poland and ELF publication “Fragile Europe.” The full publication is available here.
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