The United States Rejects Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Regarding Online Platform Regulations
American diplomatic officials declared it would deny visas to five individuals, among them a former EU commissioner, for allegedly seeking to "coerce" US-based social media platforms into curtailing perspectives they oppose.
"These individuals and weaponized NGOs have promoted censorship crackdowns by other governments - in each case focusing on US voices and American companies," remarked US diplomat the official.
The former European tech regulator implied that a "targeted campaign" was underway.
Breton was described as the "mastermind" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which enforces content moderation on digital platforms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who see it as seeking to censor right-wing opinions. EU authorities rejects this characterization.
The official has been in conflict with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over requirements to follow EU rules.
EU regulators 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 "deceptive" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
In response, Musk's site prevented the Commission from running advertisements on its platform.
Reactions and Broader Bans
Reacting to the entry restriction, Breton posted on X: "Addressing the US: Censorship isn't where you think it is."
Another listed individual, who heads the UK-based disinformation research group, was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State the official accused the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to exhort censorship and targeting of US expression and press".
A representative for the group characterized the entry bans as "an authoritarian attack on free expression and an egregious act of government censorship".
"These measures today are unethical, unlawful, and un-American," the spokesperson added.
Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a non-governmental organization that combats digital hatred and false information, was similarly issued a ban.
Rogers labeled Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with campaigns to weaponize the state apparatus against American people".
Also subject to bans were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, which the US officials said aided in implementing the DSA.
Responding, 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 state that uses accusations of censorship to silence those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they concluded.
Official Rationale
Rubio said that action was initiated to impose visa restrictions on "representatives of the international suppression network" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".
"President Trump has been clear that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance opposes violations of American sovereignty. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting US expression is unacceptable," he added.