Washington, D.C. – February 7, 2026 – Amid growing concerns over foreign governments pressuring U.S.-based social media platforms to suppress American speech, Republican lawmakers are exploring legislation that would grant American citizens and companies the power to sue foreign entities responsible for such censorship.
The proposal draws inspiration from the Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion (GRANITE) Act, a bill introduced in the Wyoming state legislature on February 5, 2026. The GRANITE Act aims to protect Wyoming residents and businesses from extraterritorial censorship demands, particularly from regulators in countries like the United Kingdom, by prohibiting the state from enforcing foreign judgments that violate First Amendment protections. It would impose civil penalties on state officials who cooperate with such orders and declare foreign censorship directives unenforceable in Wyoming courts.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) signaled strong interest in a federal counterpart during a recent exchange with journalist Michael Shellenberger. When asked if Congress would consider measures similar to the GRANITE Act, Jordan replied, “We are definitely looking at that,” adding that lawmakers are actively seeking remedies to counter foreign censorship efforts. He emphasized the need to protect Americans' free speech rights from overseas interference.
This development comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions over foreign influence on online speech. A recent interim report from the House Judiciary Committee, titled "The Foreign Censorship Threat, Part II: Europe's Decade-Long Campaign to Censor the Global Internet and How it Harms American Speech in the United States", detailed how the European Commission has allegedly pressured major platforms to alter global content moderation policies. According to the report, based on subpoenaed Big Tech documents, these actions have resulted in the censorship of true information in the U.S., targeted U.S. political content (often disproportionately conservative), and interfered in elections.
Examples include the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which has been accused of coercing platforms into broader suppression of speech, and recent fines imposed on companies like X (formerly Twitter) for non-compliance. Similar concerns have arisen with regulators in the UK (via the Online Safety Act), Brazil, and Australia.
Currently, foreign governments often enjoy immunity from U.S. lawsuits under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). A federal version of the GRANITE Act could amend the FSIA to create a new cause of action, allowing affected Americans to sue foreign states or organizations for damages related to censorship that violates U.S. constitutional protections. Successful suits could potentially lead to the forfeiture of foreign assets in the U.S.
Related efforts include the No Censors on our Shores Act (H.R. 1071), introduced in February 2025 by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), which would make foreign officials who censor Americans inadmissible to the U.S. or deportable. The Trump administration has also imposed visa restrictions and sanctions on individuals and entities accused of leading censorship efforts against American viewpoints.
Proponents argue these measures are essential to defend U.S. sovereignty and free expression in the digital age, as foreign regulators increasingly extend their reach to American platforms and users. Critics of foreign censorship regimes, including tech policy experts and lawmakers, warn that without stronger countermeasures, global internet governance could erode core American freedoms.
The House Judiciary Committee continues its investigation into these issues, with potential legislation expected to gain traction in the coming months as Congress weighs responses to what some describe as an emerging "global censorship-industrial complex."
For now, the GRANITE Act's introduction in Wyoming marks the first state-level pushback, but federal action could provide broader protection for Americans nationwide.
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