Upholding Free Speech Amidst the EU’s DSA Law

Greetings Gab Community,

Today, I want to address a matter of utmost importance – the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) law, its implications, and our stance as a platform committed to protecting free speech. The law goes into effect starting today and Gab will not be complying.

Recent developments have brought this law to the forefront, as it seeks to reshape the landscape of social media regulation within the EU. This legislation, while introduced with the intention of curbing content that is already illegal, brings with it certain provisions that infringe upon the very essence of open dialogue and free speech.

This is another government censorship scheme like all the rest. If the EU thinks they can get an armored division on the ground and into our offices in Pennsylvania they’re welcome to try. Until that day we’re an American company, with no presence outside of the United States, operating a constitutionally protected business and we will continue to extend freedom to the entire world, as is our God-given and unassailable constitutional right.

Gab has always been a platform that champions unrestricted discourse, standing as a bastion for free speech in an increasingly regulated digital world. We firmly believe that the foundation of any society rests upon the ability to share different ideas, even those that may be controversial or challenging.

The DSA’s intention to penalize platforms for failing to address what they label as “misinformation” and “hate speech” raises concerns. We understand the importance of combating illegal content, but this should not come at the cost of stifling differing viewpoints. The risk of suppressing legitimate conversations looms large, and we cannot support measures that could potentially compromise the principles of free speech.

Elon Musk and X, on the other hand, have chosen to comply with the DSA law, and we respect their decision. Every platform has its own philosophy and approach towards content moderation, and we believe in the diversity of choices available to users, but this is not a path Gab is willing to take.

The meeting between EU’s industry chief, Thierry Breton, and Elon Musk in Texas highlights the alignment of their perspectives on the DSA. However, we differ in our approach, as we believe in a more open, unrestricted conversation where the flow of ideas remains unimpeded.

In just the past few weeks alone Gab has faced challenges from multiple quarters. The government of New Zealand has threatened us with hefty fines for refusing to comply with their demands for censorship. Similarly, the Australian government reached out with its own demands for content removal. Despite these pressures, we remain resolute in our commitment to not only uphold free speech but to also resist foreign fines that aim to compromise these principles.

The DSA’s sweeping reach and its emphasis on controlling even legal content has raised eyebrows among the global anti-censorship and free speech community. We firmly believe that this act, coupled with upcoming regulations, poses a significant threat to the very fabric of open discourse.

At Gab, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a platform where your voices can be heard, regardless of the tide of regulations. We are aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but we stand strong in our conviction to protect and preserve the fundamental right to free speech.

Thank you for your unwavering support.

Sincerely,
Andrew Torba
CEO, Gab