The 'Zensursula' meme emerged in 2009 as a protest against Ursula von der Leyen’s proposed legislation to block websites in Germany, which critics feared would lead to state-sponsored censorship. The term is a portmanteau of the German word for censorship, 'Zensur,' and her first name. The meme typically depicts her as a gatekeeper of the internet, often associated with red 'Stop' signs. It saw a massive resurgence during the European Union's Copyright Directive (Article 13/17) debates, serving as a symbol for digital rights activists. Today, the Zensursula template is widely used to mock overreaching government regulations, digital surveillance, and any perceived threats to online anonymity and freedom of speech.