The U.S. State Department has implemented visa restrictions on Thierry Breton, a former European Union commissioner, and four individuals involved in anti-disinformation efforts. The department accuses these individuals of orchestrating campaigns to pressure American social media platforms into censoring or demonetizing viewpoints they oppose.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that these actions target “agents of the global censorship-industrial complex” who are “potentially barred from entering the United States.” He asserted that these activists and non-governmental organizations have promoted censorship crackdowns by foreign governments, specifically targeting American speakers and companies.
Breton, who served as EU commissioner from 2019 to 2024, responded on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting that the Digital Services Act (DSA), a piece of legislation he championed, was passed with broad support from the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states. He remarked, “To our American friends: ‘Censorship isn’t where you think it is.'”
The visa bans come amid broader travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on foreign visitors and continued criticism of European policies. While Rubio did not initially name the individuals targeted, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers later identified some of them on X. Among those sanctioned are Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, co-leaders of HateAid, an organization focused on combating online hate and disinformation.
Rogers described the measures as enforcing a “red line” against the “extraterritorial censorship of Americans.” In a prior interview, she criticized the U.K.’s Online Safety Act (OSA), arguing it has extraterritorial reach by applying to U.S. citizens’ speech on U.S.-based platforms concerning American politics.
The DSA and OSA represent significant regulatory efforts by European authorities to curb the power of major technology companies and enhance online safety. The DSA mandates that platforms like Google and Meta more proactively address illegal content, with substantial fines for non-compliance. Similarly, the OSA introduces measures such as age verification for adult websites and other online platforms.
This development underscores the ongoing tension between U.S. approaches to free speech and platform regulation and European efforts to establish robust legal frameworks for online content. The global nature of digital platforms means that national regulations can quickly become subjects of international debate and diplomatic friction, particularly when they impact cross-border communication and the operations of multinational tech giants. The implications for transatlantic digital policy and the future of internet governance remain a critical area to watch.
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