French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday challenged conventional notions of "free speech" at an event promoting university partnerships between India and France, arguing that transparency in technology, particularly algorithms that drive social media, is essential to meaningful expression.

Speaking during his visit to India focusing on artificial intelligence cooperation and bilateral innovation, Macron said "free speech is pure bulls*** if nobody knows how you are guided through this," stressing that without transparency around how digital platforms shape information, democratic discourse is undermined.

"All the algorithms have biases, we know that. There is no doubt," Macron said.

"And they are so impactful, when you speak about social media, that having no clue about how the algorithm is made, how it is tested, and where it will guide you, the democratic biases of this could be huge."

While the United States traditionally provides broad legal protections to technology platforms and generally favors limited government intervention in online speech, the European Union has moved in the opposite direction.

In recent years, Brussels has advanced sweeping regulations, including the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, aimed at increasing transparency, moderating harmful content, and curbing the power of major American tech companies.

EU officials argue such measures are necessary to protect democratic institutions and prevent misinformation, foreign interference, and algorithmic manipulation.

Critics in the United States contend that Europe’s regulatory approach risks suppressing lawful speech and imposing government-backed standards that diverge sharply from America’s free expression tradition.

The tension has fueled ongoing transatlantic debates over digital governance, content moderation, and the proper balance between free speech and platform accountability.