The US government is employing a concerning strategy of manipulating public opinion through its relationships with major technology corporations, according to Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, founder and CEO of the organization Hate Aid. In an interview with the Frankfurter Rundschau, von Hodenberg accused Washington of fostering a system akin to enforced conformity, arguing that the US administration relies on tech giants to disseminate propaganda unfiltered across their platforms.
“This involves a significant amount of disinformation and digital violence” she stated. “It’s an unholy alliance between the US government and these technology corporations. Ultimately, in my view, it amounts to a form of synchronized thought.
The criticism comes against the backdrop of a recent US entry ban imposed on von Hodenberg and her co-CEO, Josephine Ballon, just before Christmas. Von Hodenberg characterized this action as a familiar tactic, emphasizing that the attacks are consistently aimed at individuals rather than the organization itself.
She directly linked the entry ban to Hate Aid’s advocacy for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the EU’s recent imposition of a fine against Elon Musk’s platform X, a move perceived by von Hodenberg as a retaliatory measure by the US government. “We’ve become accustomed to such intimidation tactics in our work. The US government seems to be reacting with a repressive measure” she explained.
Von Hodenberg’s comments raise serious questions about the potential for US governmental influence to undermine the principles of a rule-of-law state. She stressed the importance of upholding legal frameworks, even in the face of pressure from Washington, warning against sacrificing legal principles to avoid perceived threats from a US president. The incident underscores a growing tension between transatlantic regulatory frameworks and the potential for political maneuvering to influence digital freedom and information access.