💥Free-speech win in Europe — but the fight isn’t over. The European Commission is withdrawing its plan to make “hate speech” an EU crime, placing it in the same category as terrorism, human trafficking and organised crime. The proposal needed unanimous agreement in the Council; it is encouraging that several member states blocked it over free-speech concerns. That is a real victory. Yet in the same document the Commission says it is now considering a Directive on combating online “incitement to violence and hatred.” Why this remains dangerous • “Incitement to hatred” is already used across Europe to prosecute peaceful speech — biblical views, criticism of gender ideology, or ordinary political opinions. • Incitement to violence is already a crime. Adding vague “hatred” creates a flexible tool to silence disfavoured views. • A directive would be easier to pass than a treaty change and would reinforce the Digital Services Act’s online censorship machinery. Vague speech crimes chill debate far beyond any genuine threats. Clarity, narrow definitions limited to violence, and strong free-expression safeguards are still essential. The leaders of the member states have a responsibility to actively curb the appetite of the Commission and its bureaucracy to censor opinions they don’t like. 🔥They forget democracy works and evolves with freedom of speech and debate not technical suppression of unwelcome views /opinions .