On the very day that European lawmakers intensified their calls for stricter oversight of platforms like Meta and X, the European Commission (EC) denied accusations of censorship made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Despite this denial, critics point out that the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and past demands to remove content reveal a pattern of censorship embedded in its approach to regulating digital platforms.
Zuckerberg’s remarks, which accused Europe of institutionalizing censorship through its regulatory framework, prompted a firm rebuttal from the EC. “We absolutely refute any claims of censorship,” stated a Commission spokesperson. The DSA, they argued, does not compel platforms to remove lawful content but focuses on illegal material or content deemed harmful, such as that impacting children or democratic processes.
However, this defense should be met with skepticism. The DSA passed as a landmark piece of legislation, has been criticized for its potential to stifle free expression under the guise of ensuring safety and security. Zuckerberg expressed concern about Europe’s increasingly restrictive digital environment, stating, “Europe has an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalizing censorship and making it difficult to build anything innovative there.”
Zuckerberg isn’t wrong. The timing of the clash between Meta and the EC coincides with Meta’s decision to overhaul its content moderation policies in the United States. Zuckerberg announced that the company would abandon its US-based fact-checking programs on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, replacing them with a “community notes” system modeled after the approach used by X. This system allows users to add publicly visible notes to posts they consider misleading, provided those notes are deemed helpful by a diverse group of contributors.
When asked about the potential use of similar systems in Europe, the Commission noted that such measures would require risk assessments submitted to the EU executive. While emphasizing flexibility in content moderation approaches, the EC stressed that any system must be effective. “Whatever model a platform chooses needs to be effective, and this is what we’re looking at… So we are checking the effectiveness of the measures or content moderation policies adopted and implemented by platforms here in the EU,” said an EC spokesperson. […]
— Read More: reclaimthenet.org
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
