What Is Freedom.gov? Inside The US Plan For A Portal To Access Content Banned In Europe

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 03:03 IST

Washington is developing a website aimed at expanding access to restricted online content, a move that could raise tensions with European regulators.

The US State Department is working on an online portal that would allow users in Europe and other regions to access content banned by their governments, including material classified as hate speech or terrorist propaganda, according to a Reuters report.

The website, expected to be hosted at freedom.gov, is being pitched by Washington as a tool to counter censorship and expand digital freedom. One of the sources told the news agency that officials have discussed adding a virtual private network feature that would make user traffic appear to originate from the United States, while activity on the site would not be tracked.

The project is being led by Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers. It had been expected to be unveiled at the Munich Security Conference last week but was delayed.

State Department Response

A State Department spokesperson said the US does not run a censorship-circumvention programme specifically targeting Europe but said promoting digital freedom, including privacy tools such as VPNs, remains a priority. The spokesperson also denied that any announcement had been delayed or that department lawyers had raised concerns.

Potential Strain With Europe

If launched, the portal could deepen tensions between Washington and European allies, where approaches to online speech differ significantly from those in the United States. European regulations require platforms to remove illegal hate speech, extremist propaganda and certain forms of disinformation, rules shaped by the continent’s efforts to prevent a resurgence of extremist ideologies.

US officials have increasingly criticised these policies, arguing they suppress political expression. The Trump administration has made what it calls the defence of free speech — particularly conservative voices online — a key part of its foreign policy stance.

Wider Policy Context

The initiative comes amid broader friction between Washington and European regulators over technology governance. In recent years, the European Union has enforced stricter content rules on major platforms, while US officials have argued such measures risk limiting open debate.

According to the report, the proposed portal could place the US in the unusual position of appearing to encourage users to bypass local laws. It also remains unclear what additional capabilities the site would offer beyond existing commercial VPN services.

The domain freedom.gov was registered in January and currently shows a basic page with the Design Studio logo and a login form, Reuters reported.

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