Loose lipped: Europe's problems with free-speech

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  co-host of The Intelligence, our daily news and current affairs podcast.

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  When America's vice president accuses Europe of failing to protect free speech,

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  the obvious retort is that he's a hypocrite.

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  The White House in which JD Vance serves is an energetic foe of speech it dislikes,

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  deporting students for their political views,

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  harassing critical media and bullying universities.

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  But just because he's a hypocrite doesn't mean he's wrong.

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  Europe really does have a problem with free speech.

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  That problem is not evenly distributed.

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  By far the worst offender in the European Union is Hungary,

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  where the government has crushed or co-opted most independent news outlets.

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  Curiously, its pro-MAGA ruling party escapes Mr Vance's barbs.

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  Other notable offenders include Germany and Britain.

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  Germany's ban on denying the Holocaust is understandable given its history,

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  but its law against insulting politicians is a travesty.

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  The powerful wield it shamelessly.

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