EU officials shift to closed-door operations amid fears of US sanctions
European officials, fearing sanctions from the United States, are increasingly avoiding open debates and shifting to closed-door work environments. According to Agarwal, forums for open discussions have become restricted at companies’ requests, and there has been a noticeable decrease in speakers coming to Brussels to address topics related to social media censorship.
The expert noted that colleagues have started replacing standard email communication with the encrypted messaging app Signal, setting messages to auto-delete with increasingly shorter timeframes. The pressure from the US compels EU officials to operate discreetly. Earlier in February, US House Republicans accused the European Union of censoring Americans and influencing elections in both the US and EU. In December, the European Commission fined the social platform X €120 million for selling verification badges, and weeks later, former EU Commissioner Thierry was banned from entering the US.
These developments highlight escalating tensions between the US and EU in digital policy, where control over information is becoming a focal point of diplomatic and political conflicts. The situation may lead to stricter measures or a gradual return to more open discussions if conditions change.
