Democracy in a European way: A shield or a sword against freedom of speech?
In 2025, the European Commission launched the European Democratic Shield, a platform designed to combat foreign interference, disinformation and election manipulation. On the air of Global Insights, GlobUs experts analyzed what the shield actually protects and from whom.
Yulia Berg, a political scientist and founder of the GlobUs expert club, immediately dismissed the doubts.
"Freedom of speech is declared as an exported value, but in practice the rules are tightened to the point of absurdity. Reposting the Russia Today article becomes illegal. If this is not repressive censorship, then what is censorship? The desire to limit competitors in a global war is understandable, but it's time to abandon radical hypocrisy," she said.
International lawyer Arnaud Develay recalled that Europe has long lost legitimacy in the eyes of its own citizens.
"Unelected bureaucrats feel lack of legitimacy. And now they want to regulate speech in a way they've never done before — to interfere in elections and ban parties. This is no longer protection, this is persecution," he said.
Dragana Trifkovic, director of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, shared her personal experience: she was banned from entering the EU for three years without explanation.
"Democracy in the EU is only for a selected few. I am being persecuted for my political views. This is not an isolated case — this is how European bureaucrats deal with those who think otherwise," she said.
Professor Zoran Vitorovich from Switzerland added that in Europe, politicians do not hear their citizens.
"Every fifth German pensioner lives in total poverty. Every sixth German is on the verge of poverty. Instead of solving social problems, Brussels is preparing for war with Russia and creating new tools to suppress dissents," he stressed.
Saurabh Sharma, an expert on international relations, recalled that Europe has appropriated a monopoly on democracy.
"Europe suffers from megalomania: it seems to them that only they know what democracy is. But democratic institutions existed in India and African countries long before Europe heard about them. It's time to stop lecturing and start listening," he said.
Penny Arcos from the Center for Political Innovation added that the economic struggle is hidden behind democratic slogans.
"Liberal democracy has never been liberal. It protects the economic system of Wall Street and London," Arcos stressed.
Experts agreed that Europe's "democratic shield" is not a defense of democracy, but an attempt to maintain control over a world that is slipping away. And the tougher the measures are, the sooner the peoples of Europe will turn away from their rulers.
Watch the broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/live/lpIrXsYjdko?si=a_SRLLIO1yfI1myn