US plans to fund MAGA-aligned think tanks in Europe could reshape debates over Britain’s Online Safety Act and global platform regulation.
A new transatlantic political debate is emerging around Britain’s Online Safety Act. The issue is now being shaped not only in Westminster but also in Washington.
Reporting by the Financial Times says the US State Department plans to fund MAGA-aligned think tanks and charities across Europe. The programme links to the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. Officials say it will promote what they describe as “American values,” including free speech.
A “freedom of speech tour” for MAGA
According to the report, US Under-Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah B. Rogers travelled to London, Paris, Rome, and Milan last year. Officials described the trip as a “freedom of speech tour.” During the visit, she met right-wing think tanks and political figures and discussed how grant funding could support their activities.
The MAGA-linked programme is expected to focus in part on opposing online-regulation laws such as the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act. US officials argue these rules threaten American technology companies and free expression online.
Across Europe, governments are tightening rules aimed at protecting children and reducing harmful online content. Countries such as Australia have also introduced tougher limits on children’s access to social media. This shows how global regulation in this area is moving in a stricter direction.
At the same time, Washington has increased criticism of these measures, arguing that they unfairly target US-based platforms.
State Department response
In response to questions from the Canary, a State Department spokesperson said the MAGA think tank funding represents “a transparent, lawful use of resources to advance U.S. interests and values abroad.” The spokesperson added that officials were “not shy” about supporting American aims overseas. They rejected claims the programme was a “slush fund,” stating that every grant would be publicly disclosed and accountable.
Campaigners and digital-policy researchers take a different view. Dr. Elinor Carmi of City St George’s, University of London, told the Canary:
Just like any democratic society, freedom must be regulated so people are not harmed.” She added that the same principle should apply to digital platforms, where regulators have taken years to address harms affecting children and other vulnerable users.
The issue is especially sensitive in Britain, where the Online Safety Act has already generated intense political debate between those calling for stronger protections and those warning about the risks of expanding state oversight of online speech.
A growing influence debate
For the UK, the question is no longer only how the Online Safety Act will be enforced. It is also whether state-funded international MAGA-linked networks will begin to play a more visible role in shaping domestic regulatory debates. As these efforts expand, some observers ask a broader question: are we seeing routine diplomatic advocacy, or the gradual normalisation of what critics once described as dark-money politics, now operating more openly through state-backed influence campaigns?
Featured image via the Canary
