Erik Strand, 27.07.2025
In the Norwegian online newspaper iNyheter, we can read that Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery and the Norwegian government want to implement EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). One can also read that the Conservative Party is positive towards DSA, while Progress Party is sceptical.
If the DSA is implemented in Norway, the authorities wil have the opportunity to fine the companies behind social media if they do not remove illegal content. We can read in the article that jurist Anine Kierulf, mentioned as an expert on freedom of speech, warns that the DSA will lead to more censorship:
“- It is not always easy to draw the line between what is legal and what is illegal utterings, she says to Subjekt.
Kierulf fears that the risk of high fines can lead to a careful practice, where social media platforms remove content which only borders on what is illegal.”
Kierulf’s statements to the magazine Subject is unfortunately only available for paid subscribers. However, one can easily imagine some scenarios and good reasons for not implementing DSA. If the social media companies risk being fined for illegal content, they have a problem. It is extremely difficult to evaluate the legality of the enormous numbers of social media posts. This implies that the social media companies get a pressure, an incentive and an excuse for censoring in order to be sure.
If one takes a closer look at existing censorship in social media, one sees that this is what actually happens already – massive censorship. Ant there exist ugly examples of alternative media which cover important topics ignored by mainstream media, that have had their social media accounts deleted.
Lubna Jaffery, the government and other supporters of the DSA should be expected to be aware for the arguments several people have furthered against the DSA. They are still eager to implement it.
I choose to conclude by naming another Norwegian politician who has spoken in favour of the DSA, the Conservative Party’s spokesperson on culture, Tage Pettersen. I quote from i Nyheter’s article:
“The Conservative Party supports the DSA and want the directive implemented, while the Prograss Party is sceptical.
- It is very important that the measures are implemented, in order for the government’s strategy against desinformation is to succeed, says the Conservative Party’s spokesperson on culture, Tage Pettersen.
Fampo 