US Denies Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Over Social Media Rules
American diplomatic officials announced it would deny visas to a group of five people, including a former EU commissioner, for allegedly seeking to "force" US-based online companies into silencing opinions they oppose.
"These individuals and aggressive non-profits have advanced suppression campaigns by other governments - in each case targeting US voices and US firms," stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Thierry Breton remarked that a "targeted campaign" was taking place.
Breton was described as the "mastermind" of the European Union's online content law, which imposes speech regulations on digital platforms.
A Contentious Law
Yet, it has angered some US conservatives who see it as an attempt to silence right-wing opinions. Brussels denies this.
Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, owner of platform X, over obligations to follow EU rules.
The European Commission imposed a penalty on X 120 million euros over its verification system – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
In response, Musk's site prevented the Commission from running advertisements on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Reacting to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "To our American friends: Censorship isn't where you think it is."
Another listed individual, who leads the British Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State the official alleged the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage suppression and targeting of American speech and press".
A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free speech and an egregious act of state-led suppression".
"Their actions today are immoral, unlawful, and un-American," they stated.
Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that combats digital hatred and false information, was similarly issued a ban.
Rogers called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with campaigns to weaponize the government against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were two executives of a German organization, which the State Department said helped enforce the DSA.
In a statement, the two leaders called it an "attempt to silence by a government that is increasingly disregarding the rule of law".
"We will not be intimidated by a government that uses claims of suppression to muzzle those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they added.
Official Rationale
Rubio said that steps had been taken to impose visa restrictions on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".
"The administration has been explicit that his America First diplomatic stance rejects violations of US autonomy. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting American speech is no exception," he added.
