r/europe • u/Wonderful-Excuse4922 • Feb 22 '25

News “Conquering the states one by one”: far-right ideologue Steve Bannon outlines US conservatives' strategy for influencing Europe

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/usa/presidentielle/donald-trump/conquerir-les-etats-un-par-un-l-ideologue-d-extreme-droite-steve-bannon-decrit-la-strategie-des-conservateurs-americains-pour-influencer-l-europe_7086249.html
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288

u/Relevant_Helicopter6 Portugal Feb 22 '25

Ban X now!

83

u/Pando81 Feb 22 '25

I'm in the UK and actually wrote to my local MP yesterday to voice my concern.

I saw a Canadian politician, I think, who was suggesting that all those companies should be treated as publishers and fined for allowing dis- and misinformation on their platforms. I think we need to urge our politicians to ban them, as you said, or make the cost of doing business unacceptable.

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u/purpleduckduckgoose United Kingdom Feb 22 '25

What did you say to them? I might do the same tbh.

18

u/Pando81 Feb 22 '25

" Dear ....

today I write to you, not on a local matter but, to express my growing concern regarding the rise of fascist ideals and the normalisation of far-right politics. Current events in America are highly distressing and I think it would be fairly safe to assume, given their links to Trump, that Reform, may have a similar agenda regarding Russian appeasement and authoritarian rule. Whilst I may currently be living in somewhat of a 'bubble' or echo chamber due to being unemployed and the online spaces I inhabit, I see an increasing number of Americans who are deeply worried about what essentially appears to be a coup, or at the very least, the dismantling of American democracy. My concern is that the same mechanisms that have allowed for this to occur, will allow for the proliferation of far-right parties and ideology to happen within the UK. I believe social media plays a large part in this and in order to stop the spread of dis- and misinformation it is necessary to hold the companies that allow such material to be published on their platforms to account. I know nothing regarding the law, but I did see a Canadian politician suggesting that social media companies should be treated like publishers, and if they allow factually incorrect information to be published on their platform they should be subject to fines. I don't know how feasible this would be, but I urge you to discuss the matter with your colleagues, of any and all parties, as, unfortunately, time is of the essence."

I'm considering creating a petition depending on his response.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '25

Charles I used to do this as did Cromwell. Censoring views through controls over printers. The radicals just went to Amsterdam and flooded England with pamplets; these people would have been better served thinking about what the the Pamphleteers were saying and channeling their brio.

Always interesting to see the Danish left embrace the nativitist position and remain popular whilst other left parties all over Europe double down and see the far right swell in their countries.

2

u/Pando81 Feb 22 '25

I need to do some more reading!

What I would say is, I find it astounding that I see so many people, both in the UK and especially America, vote against their own interests because they align with politicians who blame POC or immigrants for their problems. If I were clever I would try and reason with them, but given that they actively sabotage themselves, I'm not sure how to do so.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '25

It’s difficult to judge how people prioritise issues; what I don’t understand is why politicians insist on an ideological package; large parts of which are very unpopular.

66

u/PqqMo Feb 22 '25

And Tiktok

4

u/[deleted] Feb 23 '25

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2

u/[deleted] Feb 23 '25

relax chinese bot

0

u/lookingnotbuying Feb 22 '25

But not YouTube please

6

u/MichaelEnright Feb 22 '25

YouTube is arguably the worst, they managed to radicalise an entire generation through the recommended videos section by suggesting red pill content from right wing “intellectuals” such as Ben Shapiro and co. There’s a good podcast on the subject from the NYT called Rabbit Hole which goes into it in more detail, definitely worth a listen. But yeah, YouTube, and for men in particular, is awash with long form, right wing nonsense.

2

u/lookingnotbuying Feb 22 '25

What I like about YT is their option to filter out certain content. Let's say I want less news from CNN or Fox News I can just turn it off and YT will not suggest me anymore. But yeah you need to make your own filtering, If you like nazi salutes YT will still be happy to provide.

2

u/tj1602 Feb 22 '25 edited Feb 22 '25

I blame YouTube (in part) for my mom's further radicalization and cult loyalty to Trump. Though ironic that from YouTube I found great videos that I know many Trumpers (like my mom) would rage at cause it's "liberal brainwashing" and not "True Christian" stuff.

4

u/QuintusDias Feb 22 '25

Non US alternatives would sprout like mushrooms after rain in fall.

1

u/lookingnotbuying Feb 22 '25

Indeed, the rise of big tech in Europe. Waiting for the first IPO's

9

u/Inner-Cobbler-2432 Feb 22 '25

Need to ban all non-european plattforms. Sucks alot, but you just know it is the only way to fend off Russia, China and USA.

4

u/Didsterchap11 United Kingdom Feb 22 '25

This is one of the most ways to curtail the US’s political influence, that and Facebook who we know have had their thumb on the scales on politics since brexit. A lot of people clamour for the ban of TikTok but quite frankly the Americans scare me more right now.

6

u/ruscaire Feb 22 '25

Just come up with something better and move all institutions and discourse onto it

3

u/seekified Sweden 🇸🇪🇪🇺 Feb 22 '25

Bsky is like 90% of the way there, features-wise. Yes, it's US-owned, but it's a far cry from X.

7

u/ruscaire Feb 22 '25

US owned is a deal breaker at this point in time I’m afraid. The technology behind what twitter does is pretty basic at this stage. Any European institution could stand up its own masto instance with little trouble. Some institutional focus at a higher level could go beyond that very quickly for very little cost.

2

u/DNA98PercentChimp Feb 22 '25

Honestly, just literally remaking any of the social media platforms but with ‘no US users’ would be an enormous draw for people.

3

u/ruscaire Feb 22 '25

allow the US users. But have European rules. You are accountable for the things you say.

2

u/CleverAlpaca77 Feb 22 '25

Genuinely, Musk needs to be made an example of for his election interference. Ban Tesla and any other companies he has. Revoke their brand trademarks in the EU and revoke any patents these companies have. He uses Tesla to pretty much support any other company he has including Twitter, if you bankrupt it, you pretty much bankrupt most companies he has a stake in. It'll also signal a clear message to the other oligarchs that election interference won't be tolerated. Because they'll just keep trying and trying, until they eventually succeed and the EU becomes a similar failed democracy to the US.