Dutch PM slams ‘absurd’ US decision to livestream execution

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten sharply criticized the U.S.’s decision to publicly livestream an execution Friday, labeling it “absurd.”

“Personally, I find it truly absurd to broadcast a death penalty execution live,” Jetten told reporters at a press conference in The Hague. “I haven’t discussed this with the US myself recently, but I can imagine that if there is contact with them, for instance, at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we would certainly make our dissatisfaction known” he added.

The U.S. military plans to carry out a public execution for the first time in recent history, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3. The Pentagon has said his death will be live-streamed.

Jetten said social media platforms in Europe have a responsibility to ensure the execution is not broadcasted on the continent.

“As far as I’m concerned, it is really up to the social media platforms in Europe to prevent this from being circulated and broadcast on their channels. But I fear it will be impossible to prevent,” he said.

Jetten added that if the execution does appear on European social media, there will be “a great number of reports filed,” as violent content must be moderated by social media platforms under European law.

“Video-sharing platforms that allow video content displaying scenes of gratuitous violence must use effective age assurance so that children cannot normally see this content,” a spokesperson for Irish media regulator Coimisiún na Meán told POLITICO. This means platforms can show violent content as long as they are making sure it doesn’t reach children.

The regulator is investigating X over possible breaches in online safety rule for failing to do proper age checks.

This is a developing story.