US Denies Visas to Former European Union Official and Others Regarding Social Media Rules
American diplomatic officials stated it would deny visas to a group of five people, including a ex-European Union official, for reportedly seeking to "coerce" American online companies into curtailing opinions they oppose.
"These individuals and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by other governments - in each case focusing on US voices and US firms," remarked Secretary of State the official.
The former European tech regulator implied that a "witch hunt" was taking place.
Breton was described as the "key designer" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates content moderation on social media firms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, the act has frustrated some US conservatives who see it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. Brussels denies this.
The official has been in conflict with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over requirements to adhere to European regulations.
The European Commission recently fined X €120m over its blue tick badges – the first fine under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
As a countermove, Musk's site prevented the European body from running advertisements on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Responding to the visa ban, the former commissioner wrote on X: "Addressing the US: Speech suppression 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 Sarah B Rogers alleged the GDI of using American public funds "to exhort censorship and targeting of US expression and press".
A GDI spokesperson characterized the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack 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 Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that fights digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban.
The undersecretary called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to misuse the state apparatus against US citizens".
Also subject to bans were two executives of a German organization, which the US officials said helped enforce the DSA.
Responding, the two CEOs described it as an "act of repression by a government that is increasingly disregarding the rule of law".
"We will not be intimidated by a state that uses claims of suppression to silence those who defend human rights," they concluded.
Official Rationale
Rubio said that steps had been taken 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 explicit that his America First foreign policy opposes violations of US autonomy. Extraterritorial overreach by overseas regulators aimed at US expression is unacceptable," he added.
