The United States has announced visa restrictions against a former European Union commissioner and four other individuals, accusing them of attempting to pressure American social media companies into censoring views they oppose.
In a statement released Tuesday, the US State Department said the targeted individuals were part of what it described as “radical activists and weaponized NGOs” that have promoted censorship by foreign governments, allegedly aimed at American speakers and companies.
Among those named is Thierry Breton, the EU’s former top digital policy official, who frequently clashed with technology leaders such as Elon Musk. The State Department labeled Breton the key architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping law that sets content moderation, transparency, and compliance requirements for large online platforms operating in Europe.
France reacted strongly to the move. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the visa bans, insisting that Europe would not allow external actors to dictate how its digital space is regulated. He stressed that the DSA was democratically adopted, has no extraterritorial effect, and does not apply to the United States.
The DSA has become a flashpoint for US conservatives, who argue it is being used to suppress right-wing speech — an allegation Brussels firmly rejects. The legislation requires major platforms to justify moderation decisions, increase transparency, and allow researchers to study issues such as children’s exposure to harmful content.
Breton, who left the European Commission in 2024, denounced the visa ban as a “witch hunt,” likening it to the McCarthy era in the United States. He argued that censorship concerns were being misdirected.
Tensions have intensified after the EU recently fined Musk’s platform X for breaching DSA rules related to advertising transparency and user verification. In response, Washington warned that prominent European companies — including Accenture, DHL, Siemens, Spotify, and Mistral — could face retaliatory measures.
Also affected by the visa restrictions are Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of Germany’s HateAid, and Clare Melford of the UK-based Global Disinformation Index. The US claims some of these organizations play roles in enforcing or supporting DSA regulations.
Beyond the EU, Washington has also criticized the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mirrors aspects of the DSA. Last week, the White House suspended a technology cooperation agreement with Britain over concerns about its digital regulations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures reflect President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, emphasizing that the administration opposes what it sees as foreign attempts to regulate or restrict American speech.
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