FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK — The Global Alliance Against Digital Hate and Extremism (GAADHE), a coalition of more than 70 human rights and democracy organizations from across the world, has issued an open letter urging the European Commission to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) equally. Tech companies should not allow exemptions from content moderation for political figures on major social media platforms.
In the letter, GAADHE raises serious concerns that Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) such as TikTok, YouTube, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and X (formerly Twitter) continue to allow high-profile politicians and influencers to publish harmful content without impunity. This is not only a violation of platform rules and EU law, but a driver of systemic risk under the DSA—fueling hate speech, disinformation, political violence, and the erosion of democratic norms.
The coalition emphasizes that social media platforms’ broad exemptions for public figures—often justified under “public interest” or “newsworthiness” policies—are undermining both the intent and letter of the DSA, particularly Article 14(4), which requires the VLOPs to act in a “diligent, objective and proportionate manner in applying and enforcing the restrictions.”
“The incendiary rhetoric of political leaders can make political violence more likely,” the coalition warns. “It incites violence and gives it direction, complicates law enforcement response, and increases fear in vulnerable communities.”
“The tech companies refuse to moderate speech from the politically powerful, weakening democracies everywhere,” said Wendy Via, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE). “The European Commission must enforce the DSA equally and resist international pressure to disregard the rules—especially when that pressure serves to spread far-right extremism, hate, and anti-democratic agendas.”
Dr. Rafal Pankowski of the NEVER AGAIN Association said, “Social media platforms have become tools of cynical leaders inciting hatred on an unprecedented scale globally. It is high time for democratic societies to stand up to the challenge and ensure that basic standards of human dignity are upheld online.”
GAADHE has called on the European Commission to:
- Demand from VLOPs answers as to how speech from political figures is treated and what steps are taken to mitigate the risks generated by political speech.
- Issue updated guidance that political figures are not exempt from the rules – including fact-checking of political advertisements. This should be done without regard to political position or economic considerations.
- Ensure that VLOP content moderation programs for all users are both lingually and culturally competent. Most content moderation today is driven by automated systems primarily trained in English, with inadequate attention to many of the languages spoken in the EU and around the world.
- If necessary, require human moderation of content produced by the politically powerful.
“The European Commission should take the lead in the enforcement of the DSA as a means to uphold European values so as to help defend liberal democracy and combat rising authoritarianism,” said Panayote Dimitras, a spokesperson from Greek Helsinki Monitor.
The coalition also highlights that many platforms have cut back their content moderation and election integrity teams, even as political disinformation and hate speech continue to rise. With AI now making it easier to spread harmful content, the groups warn that platforms must be held accountable for protecting public debate.
“Unchecked political speech is a systemic risk,” the letter states. “Without robust enforcement of the DSA, the abuse of social media will continue to undermine elections, civic trust, and the safety of marginalized communities.”
GAADHE and its global partners stress that the Digital Services Act is not merely a regulatory tool—it is a critical safeguard for democracy, human rights, and the integrity of public discourse. As authoritarian movements gain ground and political violence intensifies, the failure to hold powerful figures accountable online carries real-world consequences.
The coalition urges the European Commission to act decisively: enforce the DSA fully and equally, without political compromise.
