{"id":74627,"date":"2025-06-17T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=74627"},"modified":"2025-08-01T16:35:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T14:35:32","slug":"europes-free-speech-crisis-is-making-international-headlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis","title":{"rendered":"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

ADF International has been working tirelessly to make this happen. <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Paivi\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Imagine a Europe where quoting the Bible<\/a> lands you in court. Where praying silently or offering consensual conversation on a public streetside lands you with a criminal charge and hefty fines.<\/p>

This isn\u2019t dystopian fiction. It\u2019s the reality of what\u2019s happening right now in modern day Europe.<\/p>

For years, we\u2019ve been sounding the alarm on this creeping censorship, defending freedom of speech and standing up for those being punished for peacefully living out their beliefs.<\/p>

Now, the world is taking notice.<\/p>

At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year \u2014 an influential forum on international policy and global security \u2014 U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned that free expression in Europe is under siege<\/a>.<\/p>

Some European officials brushed off his concerns.<\/p>

But just months later, The Economist<\/b> \u2014 a leading voice in international journalism \u2014 dedicated its May 2025 issue to exactly that: Europe\u2019s free speech problem<\/a>.<\/p>

One headline said it plainly: \u201cJD Vance was right.\u201d<\/i><\/p>

The magazine reported: \u201cEuropean countries all claim to protect free speech\u2026 But in practice, it\u2019s now being punished \u2014 not just for inciting violence, but for causing offence.\u201d<\/i><\/p>

Another piece noted: \u201cEurope really does have a problem with free speech\u2026All European countries guarantee [it]. However, most also try to limit the harms they fear it may cause.<\/i><\/p>

\u201cThis goes well beyond the kinds of speech that even classical liberals agree should be banned\u2026It often extends to speech that hurts people\u2019s feelings.\u201d<\/i><\/p>

The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up marks a powerful shift.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Silence as a Criminal Offence: The UK Cases That Sparked Outrage <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

At the Munich Security Conference, Vance stated that \u201cbasic liberties of religious Britons, in particular\u201d<\/i>, are at risk.<\/p>

He drew attention to specific examples, including that of our client, Adam Smith-Connor<\/a>, a British army veteran who was criminally convicted for silently praying across the street from an abortion facility in Bournemouth.<\/p>

Adam stood still, spoke to no one, and caused no disruption, but he was still prosecuted under a so-called \u201cbuffer zone\u201d regulation. As a result of his conviction, he was ordered to pay \u00a39,000 in prosecution costs.<\/p>

With our legal support, Adam is appealing his conviction, with the hearing scheduled for July 28th of this year.<\/p>

Another case is that of our client, Livia Tossici-Bolt<\/a>, also from Bournemouth. Livia was criminally charged and ordered to pay \u00a320,000 in prosecution costs for holding a sign peacefully offering conversations near an abortion facility.<\/p>

Her sign read: \u201cHere to talk, if you want.\u201d<\/i><\/p>

Livia is exploring all appeal avenues, with our legal team standing firmly by her side.<\/p>

And there are more. In Birmingham, our client Isabel Vaughan-Spruce<\/a> was arrested not once, but twice, again, for the \u201coffence\u201d of silent prayer within a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d. Isabel stood silently near an abortion facility, praying in her mind.<\/p>

On both occasions, she was ultimately acquitted, but the message was clear: private thoughts can now be treated as criminal acts.<\/p>

In Scotland, we\u2019re coordinating the legal defence of Rose Docherty<\/a>, who was arrested for standing near a hospital with a simple pro-life sign stating, \u201cCoercion is a crime. Here to talk if you want.\u201d<\/p>

Rose acted peacefully and in accordance with her conscience, yet she now faces legal proceedings.<\/p>

These are not isolated incidents. They represent a growing culture of legal intolerance toward peaceful dissent.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Compate\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen: A Global Test for Free Speech <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Europe\u2019s free speech problem isn\u2019t just happening on public streets. It\u2019s also happening online.<\/p>\n

In another article entitled \u201cEuropeans are becoming less free to say what they think<\/i>\u201d, The Economist<\/strong> spotlighted our client, P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen<\/a>, a former Finnish MP and grandmother criminally charged with \u201chate speech\u201d.<\/p>\n

P\u00e4ivi\u2019s so-called \u201ccrime\u201d was peacefully sharing a Bible verse on Twitter, questioning her church\u2019s sponsorship of a Pride parade.<\/p>\n

For that, she endured hours of police interrogations and has been prosecuted under criminal law for six years. With our legal support, serving on her legal team, P\u00e4ivi was acquitted twice, but the state prosecution has relentlessly pursued a guilty verdict.<\/p>\n

Her case is currently pending before Finland\u2019s Supreme Court, where she awaits a judgment with far-reaching implications not only for herself, but also for freedom of speech in Europe.<\/p>\n

As the magazine rightly pointed out, \u201chate speech\u201d laws in Europe are dangerously vague, and frequently abused to target lawful, peaceful expression.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Europe\u2019s Expanding Censorship Regime: The Digital Services Act <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Enter the EU\u2019s Digital Services Act (DSA)<\/strong> \u2014 a sweeping online speech regulation framework.<\/p>

Promoted to combat \u201cdisinformation\u201d and ensure \u201csafe online spaces,\u201d the DSA grants unprecedented power to the EU by forcing online platforms to police, censor, and suppress lawful speech.<\/p>

Under the DSA, online platforms face steep penalties if they fail to remove vaguely defined \u201cillegal content.\u201d; the EU Commission has given itself the authority to direct takedowns of speech across borders; and dissenting voices risk being drowned out by algorithmic gatekeepers.<\/p>

The DSA doesn\u2019t define \u201cillegal,\u201d other than to say it means anything not compliant with the law in any EU Member State, including future laws.<\/p>

So, if you post something considered \u201cinsulting\u201d in Germany, it could be deemed illegal under the DSA and taken down across all of Europe.<\/p>

And although the EU claims the DSA only applies to EU member states, there\u2019s no doubt it will set up a de facto global censorship rulebook, as platforms will be incentivized to apply the DSA standards everywhere \u2014 affecting speech across the planet.<\/p>

Quite simply: The DSA is irreconcilable with the fundamental right to freedom of speech.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

ADF International Is Fighting Back in Brussels and Beyond <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In May this year, we co-hosted a first-of-its-kind conference<\/a> at the European Parliament to address the threats to free speech posed by the DSA.<\/p>\n

The goal was to expose this dangerous censorship framework and work with key actors to challenge the law and guarantee protections for free speech.<\/p>\n

Members of the European Parliament, lawmakers, journalists, and concerned citizens came together for strategic discussions around the dangers of this law.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was sold as the Digital Services Act is increasingly functioning as a Digital Surveillance Act,\u201d<\/i> warned Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Virginie Joron.<\/p>\n

Our Executive Director and free speech expert, Paul Coleman<\/a>, highlighted the clear threats to free speech emanating from the DSA:<\/p>\n

\u201cFree speech is under threat in Europe like it hasn\u2019t been since the days of authoritarian regimes. The DSA is being used to silence dissent.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

At the event, the U.S. State Department also expressed \u201cdeep concern\u201d about the DSA’s censorial impact with American lawmakers warning the EU against pressuring tech companies to censor. The reality is that even American-owned platforms and American citizens could be censored under the DSA.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Compare\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Hope for Free Speech in Europe <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

At the event, Paul Coleman laid out concrete actions to oppose censorship under the DSA:<\/p>

  • Member States can challenge the DSA at the European Court of Justice.<\/li>
  • Elected officials can demand answers from the European Commission.<\/li>
  • Civil society can (and must) raise its voice<\/li><\/ul>

    \u201cEvery single European\u2019s rights are jeopardized by this legislation,\u201d he said. \u201cThe more people speak out, the more pressure the Commission will feel. And the more likely we are to defeat this law.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

    We\u2019re committed to repealing or substantially reforming this censorial law. This was the first conference of its kind in the European Parliament, but it won\u2019t be the last.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    Conclusion: Censorship or Conscience? Europe Must Choose <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    The freedom to speak truth \u2014 even when it offends \u2014 is not a fringe concern. It is the bedrock of any truly free society. Without it, democracy itself begins to erode.<\/p>\n

    If sharing a Bible verse is labelled \u201chate speech,\u201d and silent prayer or peaceful conversation becomes a criminal act, then free speech in Europe is under serious threat.<\/p>\n

    That\u2019s why the warnings from The Economist<\/b> and Vice President Vance could not be timelier.<\/p>\n

    When both a globally respected publication and a prominent international leader sound the alarm, it underscores the seriousness of the threat and powerfully affirms the urgency of ADF International\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

    This moment should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers and the public alike. The erosion of fundamental freedoms can no longer be dismissed or ignored.<\/p>\n

    We at ADF International are committed to advancing the God-given right to live and speak the truth. Through legal support, strategic litigation, and international advocacy, we are working to ensure that freedom of speech, thought, and expression remains defended and protected.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Imagine a Europe where quoting the Bible lands you in court. Where praying silently or offering consensual conversation on a public streetside lands you with a criminal charge and hefty fines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":74628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[1190,25,1303,36,219],"class_list":["post-74627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","tag-adam-2","tag-free-speech","tag-livia-tossici-bolt","tag-paivi","tag-paul-coleman"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEurope\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up to global censorship marks a powerful shift.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up to global censorship marks a powerful shift.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ADF International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-17T07:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-01T14:35:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@adfintl\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@adfintl\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Verfasst von\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Gesch\u00e4tzte Lesezeit\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 Minuten\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Philipp Bues\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141\"},\"headline\":\"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-17T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-01T14:35:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\"},\"wordCount\":1443,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Adam\",\"free speech\",\"livia tossici-bolt\",\"Paivi\",\"Paul Coleman\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Commentary\"],\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\",\"name\":\"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines - ADF International\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-17T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-01T14:35:32+00:00\",\"description\":\"The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up to global censorship marks a powerful shift.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg\",\"width\":640,\"height\":330,\"caption\":\"P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen with a speech bubble.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/\",\"name\":\"ADF International\",\"description\":\"Protecting Fundamental Freedoms. Promoting Inherent Dignity.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Alliance Defending Freedom International\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png\",\"width\":175,\"height\":106,\"caption\":\"Alliance Defending Freedom International\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/adfintl\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/adfinternational\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/adfinternational\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141\",\"name\":\"Philipp Bues\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de-DE\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Philipp Bues\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/author\/pbuesadfinternational-org\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines - ADF International","description":"The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up to global censorship marks a powerful shift.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis","og_locale":"de_DE","og_type":"article","og_title":"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines","og_description":"The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up to global censorship marks a powerful shift.","og_url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis","og_site_name":"ADF International","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational","article_published_time":"2025-06-17T07:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-08-01T14:35:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":330,"url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Philipp Bues","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@adfintl","twitter_site":"@adfintl","twitter_misc":{"Verfasst von":"Philipp Bues","Gesch\u00e4tzte Lesezeit":"7 Minuten"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis"},"author":{"name":"Philipp Bues","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141"},"headline":"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines","datePublished":"2025-06-17T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-01T14:35:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis"},"wordCount":1443,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg","keywords":["Adam","free speech","livia tossici-bolt","Paivi","Paul Coleman"],"articleSection":["Commentary"],"inLanguage":"de-DE"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis","name":"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines - ADF International","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-17T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-01T14:35:32+00:00","description":"The fact that mainstream media and global leaders are finally catching up to global censorship marks a powerful shift.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"de-DE","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de-DE","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-Economist-Quotes-Graphics-Square-640-x-330-px.jpg","width":640,"height":330,"caption":"P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen with a speech bubble."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/europe-free-speech-crisis#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Europe\u2019s Free Speech Crisis Is Making International Headlines"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#website","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/","name":"ADF International","description":"Protecting Fundamental Freedoms. Promoting Inherent Dignity.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"de-DE"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#organization","name":"Alliance Defending Freedom International","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de-DE","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png","width":175,"height":106,"caption":"Alliance Defending Freedom International"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational","https:\/\/x.com\/adfintl","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/adfinternational","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/adfinternational\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141","name":"Philipp Bues","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de-DE","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg","caption":"Philipp Bues"},"url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/author\/pbuesadfinternational-org"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74627\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}