Former Biden-era disinfo czar urges Brussels to "stand firm" against criticism of censorship laws

By ramontomeydw // 2025-04-27

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Nina Jankowicz, former head of Biden's disbanded Disinformation Governance Board, urged the EU to resist U.S. pressure – particularly under Trump's second administration – to abandon digital censorship laws, reduce support for Ukraine and ease accountability for Russia.
She accused American conservatives and tech companies of undermining democracy, falsely claiming they target researchers and journalists exposing "lies," and criticized the U.S. for dismantling foreign influence countermeasures under "free speech" justifications.
Jankowicz reaffirmed her backing of the debunked 2020 intelligence letter dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation, which led to its suppression before the election.
Her testimony aligns with the EU's tightening digital speech laws, like the Digital Services Act (DSA), which allows authorities to demand content removals – a model praised by figures like Hillary Clinton but opposed by free speech advocates.
Jankowicz’s claims of U.S. "autocracy" resonate with EU officials who see unrestricted speech as a threat, highlighting a paradox where censorship is framed as democratic defense while critics warn it stifles dissent.

The former head of the now-abolished Disinformation Governance Board (DGB) under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden has called on the European Union to stand firm against an American "autocracy" that criticizes Brussels' censorship laws. Nina Jankowicz, the short-lived DGB's executive director, recently spoke before a European Parliament committee dedicated to the European Democracy Shield – the European Commission's latest censorship initiative. She warned politicians that the second administration of incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump would pressure Brussels to abandon digital censorship laws, cut support for Ukraine and weaken accountability for Russia. Her remarks at the hearing – ostensibly focused on "Russian hybrid threats" – instead pivoted repeatedly to U.S. domestic politics, framing American conservatives and tech companies as existential dangers to democracy. "Homegrown anti-democratic forces have launched a coordinated campaign to undermine researchers, journalists, advocates and civil servants who work to expose their lies," Jankowicz falsely claimed. She also accused Washington of dismantling mechanisms to counter foreign influence "under the guise of protecting free speech." Jankowicz specifically criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for shutting down the U.S. Department of State's Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub. (Related: A win for free speech: State Department SHUTS DOWN controversial disinformation office.) She also reaffirmed her support for the 2020 letter signed by 51 former intelligence officials dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation. While this claim was later debunked, it led to widespread suppression of the story ahead of the election.

The "Mary Poppins of disinfo" and Europe's war on free speech

Jankowicz, who once led the controversial DGB before its swift dissolution amid public backlash, has long been a polarizing figure. Critics dubbed her the "Mary Poppins of disinformation" for her performative advocacy of censorship policies. Her testimony aligns with a broader European push to tighten digital speech regulations – exemplified by the Digital Services Act (DSA), which empowers EU authorities to demand content removals from tech platforms. Earlier this year, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance clashed with European leaders in Munich over free speech, drawing accusations of extremism for defending open discourse. Meanwhile, figures like former U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton have openly encouraged EU censorship of U.S. social media, praising the DSA as a tool to combat so-called disinformation. Jankowicz's claims that America is descending into autocracy – despite its constitutional protections – resonate with EU officials who view unfettered free expression as a threat to their regulatory ambitions. The irony, as free speech advocates note, is that Jankowicz and her allies condemn authoritarianism while advocating state-enforced censorship. As Europe doubles down on digital restrictions, American expatriates like Jankowicz are finding receptive audiences abroad. Their warnings about U.S. "autocracy" may play well in Brussels, but they also underscore a deepening ideological divide – one where the defense of democracy increasingly means silencing dissent rather than protecting it. Watch this clip of Nina Jankowicz begging for donations to fund a lawsuit after her termination from the Department of Homeland Security, the DGB's former parent. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

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The "Mary Poppins of disinfo" and Europe's war on free speech

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