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Dutch PM slams ‘absurd’ US decision to livestream execution

The U.S. military is planning to broadcast a public execution on Dec. 3, but violent content must be moderated by social media platforms under EU law.

By Sonja Rijnen and Eliza Gkritsi

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten sharply criticized Friday the U.S.’s decision to publicly livestream an execution, 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 U.S. 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 livestreamed, but has not provided details on which social media platforms would be used, if any.

Jetten said social media platforms in Europe have a responsibility to ensure the execution is not broadcast 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 the Irish Media Commission told POLITICO. This means platforms can show violent content as long as they ensure it doesn’t reach minors.

The media regulator is currently investigating X over possible breaches in online safety rules for failing to carry out proper age checks.

The UN has said livestreaming an execution would amount to torture. “The livestreaming of an execution is tantamount to a public execution and would breach the absolute prohibition of torture,” the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights told AFP.

The body said its statement is in line with previous ones it has released about public executions in Afghanistan and Iran.

The European Commission did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.