January 28, 2026
Sovereignty slap-fight time
State Department confirms federal censorship shield law incoming
US vows “hands off our posts”—commenters cry sovereignty, hypocrisy and chaos
TLDR: The State Department signaled a federal law to stop foreign internet rules from censoring Americans. Commenters are torn between cheering free speech, calling out U.S. hypocrisy on extraterritorial taxes, and questioning whether State can promise what Congress must do, with jokes and memes fueling the drama.
The State Department just teased a federal “censorship shield” to block foreign rules—like the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act—from muzzling Americans online, and the comments immediately turned into a sovereignty soap opera. Some cheered a “red line” moment after Undersecretary Sarah Rogers called UK regulator Ofcom’s letters to sites like 4chan a non-starter. Others rolled their eyes: “Really? Where and when?” demanded skeptics, questioning whether Ofcom actually censored anyone in the U.S.
Context for the normals: Ofcom is the UK’s internet watchdog; it fined 4chan and kept sending letters, while the EU just fined X (formerly Twitter). The proposed GRANITE Act aims to be a “shield” for Americans; a potential “sword” (letting people sue) is TBD. But the mood? Split. One top take accused America of hypocrisy: if the U.S. hates extraterritorial rules, why does it tax citizens living abroad? Process nerds piled on too: why is the State Department promising what Congress does?
Then came the memes. “What in the sovereignty?” cracked one user, as another dropped the Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made a Great Point, admitting the shield could protect speech even if it helps sites some people despise. It’s free speech meets diplomatic drama—and the comments are the arena.
Key Points
- •Undersecretary Sarah Rogers signaled U.S. support for a federal law to block foreign censorship of U.S. citizens and platforms.
- •A proposed “GRANITE Act” emerged in October 2025 and a Wyoming version was finalized and filed with the state legislature.
- •Ofcom fined 4chan and expanded an investigation over age verification, asserting UK rules apply to foreign sites.
- •U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt announced he is working on federal foreign censorship shield legislation.
- •The article claims the U.S. Department of State affirmed on 1/28/2026 that the U.S. will pursue such a federal shield.