US Vice President J.D. Vance has urged the US and EU to reject the criminalization of speech, calling it “lunacy”.
In a statement on X, Vance criticized the criminalization of free speech within the EU, warning that such policies could harm US-EU relations. He referenced a CBS interview with German state prosecutors who described laws against online insults.
“This is Orwellian,” Vance stated, referring to the interview that detailed Germany’s efforts to combat online hate speech, including recent police raids targeting individuals suspected of spreading such content. Those convicted face fines or imprisonment for repeat offenses.
One prosecutor, Dr. Matthaus Fink, explained that while individuals may claim free speech, there are limits. Another, Frank-Michael Laue, noted that confiscation of electronic devices, a common punishment, is often more impactful than fines.
German law stipulates that insulting others in a manner that disturbs public peace is punishable by up to five years in prison. While often applied to offenses based on race, nationality, religion, or ethnicity, the law is not limited to such cases.
According to CBS, the German laws prohibit online malicious gossip, violent threats, fake quotes, and the reposting of false information.
Vance argued that insulting someone isn’t a crime and that such speech restrictions will strain US-EU relations, urging a rejection of these policies. This statement follows his recent criticism of EU allies at the Munich Security Conference for abandoning core values, including free speech.
President Donald Trump praised Vance’s statement as “brilliant,” adding his concern that Europe is losing its freedom of speech.