U.S. Imposes Visa Bans on EU’s Thierry Breton, Alleging Online Censorship Pressure
The United States has escalated a transatlantic dispute over digital governance by imposing visa bans on a group of European individuals, including former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton. The U.S. State Department alleges they pressured American social media companies to censor certain viewpoints, a move Washington frames as an attack on free speech.
The Banned Individuals and U.S. Allegations
The sanctions bar Thierry Breton, the EU’s former Commissioner for the Internal Market (2019-2024), and four others from entering the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused them of leading “organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” labeling them part of a “global censorship-industrial complex.”
The other individuals targeted are:
Imran Ahmed, head of the UK’s Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index.
Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from the German nonprofit HateAid.
U.S. authorities allege these figures advanced foreign censorship efforts on U.S. tech platforms.
The Heart of the Dispute: The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA)
Thierry Breton is closely associated with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark law designed to curb illegal hate speech, disinformation, and harmful content online, while imposing transparency rules on large platforms. The EU defends the DSA as necessary for user protection and modern governance.
The U.S. government, however, contends that such regulations can compel platforms to restrict speech in ways that align with European political priorities, constituting an overreach into American digital spaces and norms of free expression.
European Reaction and Denials
The visa bans have sparked strong condemnation from European capitals:
Thierry Breton denied the allegations, calling the move a politically motivated “McCarthy’s witch hunt.” He asserted the DSA is democratically adopted and does not target U.S. speech.
France condemned the action as “unacceptable,” with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating it reflects a misunderstanding of the DSA, which focuses on illegal content without extraterritorial reach.
Germany criticized the bans as disproportionate, defending European efforts to create safer online environments.
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Broader Implications and Ongoing Friction
The move highlights deepening U.S.-EU divisions over internet governance, balancing user protection against free speech. It has sparked debate among digital rights advocates, with some viewing it as an attempt to shield U.S. tech firms from foreign regulation, potentially chilling global cooperation against misinformation.
The U.S. State Department indicated these restrictions are part of broader efforts to push back against perceived foreign influence, hinting at possible further sanctions. This diplomatic clash adds to existing trade and technology tensions, underscoring a period of significant friction in transatlantic relations over the future of the digital space.
