US Rejects Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Others Regarding Online Platform Rules
American diplomatic officials stated it would deny visas to a group of five people, including a former EU commissioner, for reportedly seeking to "force" American social media platforms into suppressing perspectives they oppose.
"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have advanced censorship crackdowns by other governments - in each case targeting US voices and US firms," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The former European tech regulator implied that a "targeted campaign" was occurring.
Breton was described as the "architect" of the European Union's online content law, which imposes speech regulations on social media firms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who see it as seeking to censor conservative viewpoints. Brussels denies this.
The official has been in conflict with the billionaire entrepreneur, the world's richest man, over obligations to adhere to EU rules.
The European Commission imposed a penalty on X 120 million euros over its blue tick badges – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".
As a countermove, the platform prevented the European body from making adverts on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Reacting to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "To our American friends: Speech suppression isn't where you think it is."
Clare Melford, who heads the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was included in the sanctions.
A senior US diplomat the official accused the GDI of using American public funds "to exhort censorship and targeting of US expression and media".
A representative for the group characterized the visa sanctions as "a repressive move on free expression and a blatant example of state-led suppression".
"These measures today are immoral, illegal, and contrary to American values," they stated.
Another figure of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that fights digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban.
The undersecretary called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with campaigns to misuse the state apparatus against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were two executives of a German organization, which the State Department said aided in implementing the DSA.
In a statement, the two CEOs described it as an "attempt to silence by a government that is increasingly disregarding the legal principles".
"We will not be intimidated by a government that uses accusations of censorship to silence those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they added.
Official Rationale
Rubio said that steps had been taken to impose entry bans on "agents of the global censorship-industrial complex" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".
"President Trump has been explicit that his America First diplomatic stance opposes violations of US autonomy. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting American speech is unacceptable," he added.