Hans Klemm: Governments should be “more intrusive” in regulating online platforms to counter fake news

US Ambassador in Romania, Hans Klemm, said on Monday that the promotion of economic prosperity for the US and Romania is one of the key priorities in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“After the global financial crisis, Romania recovered and now has a very strong economic growth, becoming more competitive, creating commercial links with the EU, receiving direct foreign investments and promoting macroeconomic stability and reforms in the financial market. While Romania still has to improve its competitiveness in infrastructure, education and healthcare, the development of the country is clear. Beyond economic prosperity, Romania also entered a new political scheme through this strategic partnership with the US. One of our key priorities is promoting economic prosperity for the US and for Romania, and our strategic partnership is formed by this commitment for increasing economic opportunities. The two countries have committed to respect democratic values, including the rule of law, to have open markets, promote human rights and create strong links between all nations,” said Klemm at a conference at the Romanian Athenaeum.

Hans Klemm added that if the world didn’t collapse economically after the 1930 recession, this won’t happen in 2020 either. He also said that governments should have a reaction that is “a little more intrusive” in the regulation of the way online platforms work, in the context of fake news.

On the other hand, Klemm argued that there has been a missed opportunity regarding a more significant exchange between the US and Romanian film industries: “Romania is in competition with many other countries for American investments, such as neighbouring countries, but also Ireland and the states that make up the American nation. Americans need to decide whether they’ll invest in Romania or in Alabama, and that’s how things stand in the film industry as well.”

The ambassador also talked about globalisation: “The US is, together with industrialised democracies and other states that have the same views, against economic aggression, aiming to make existing treaties more modern, to fight against unfair trade practices, against foreign corruption, and we want to work with likeminded partners and facilitate opportunities for new markets. The US wants to work with commercial partners and upgrade the international trade system to everyone’s benefit. The fears against protectionist pressures seem like an exaggerated reaction and despite this rhetoric, globalisation has not had a serious opposing current and even if this does happen, it would be wrong to talk about the end of globalisation.”