US Denies Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Others Over Online Platform Regulations
The US State Department announced it would deny visas to a group of five people, including a former EU commissioner, for allegedly seeking to "coerce" American online companies into curtailing perspectives they disagree with.
"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states - in each case focusing on American speakers and US firms," stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The former European tech regulator implied that a "targeted campaign" was underway.
Officials labeled Breton as the "key designer" of the European Union's online content law, which mandates speech regulations on digital platforms.
A Contentious Law
However, the act has frustrated some US conservatives who see it as an attempt to silence right-wing opinions. Brussels denies this.
The official has been in conflict with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over requirements to adhere to EU rules.
EU regulators recently fined X €120m over its verification system – the first fine under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".
In response, Musk's site blocked the Commission from running advertisements on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Responding to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "Addressing the US: Censorship does not lie where you think it is."
Clare Melford, who heads the British disinformation research group, was also listed.
A senior US diplomat the official accused the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage suppression and blacklisting of US expression and press".
A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free speech and a blatant example of government censorship".
"These measures today are immoral, unlawful, and contrary to American values," they stated.
Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a nonprofit that fights digital hatred and misinformation, was similarly issued a ban.
The undersecretary labeled Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to weaponize the government against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions 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 government that uses accusations of censorship to silence those who defend human rights," they added.
Official Rationale
The Secretary of State stated that action was initiated to impose entry bans on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States".
"The administration has been explicit that his national sovereignty foreign policy rejects violations of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by foreign censors targeting US expression is no exception," he added.
