US Rejects Visas to Former European Union Official and Others Over Social Media Regulations
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 online companies into suppressing perspectives they oppose.
"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have promoted suppression campaigns by other governments - in each case targeting American speakers and American companies," remarked Secretary of State the official.
Thierry Breton suggested that a "witch hunt" was underway.
Officials labeled Breton as the "mastermind" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on digital platforms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, it has angered certain right-leaning Americans who view it as seeking to censor conservative viewpoints. Brussels denies this.
The official has been in conflict with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over requirements to adhere to EU rules.
The European Commission imposed a penalty on X €120m over its verification system – the first fine under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".
As a countermove, the platform blocked the Commission from making adverts on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Responding to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "Addressing the US: Speech suppression isn't where you think it is."
Clare Melford, who heads the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State the official alleged the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage suppression and blacklisting of US expression and media".
A GDI spokesperson said the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free speech and a blatant example of state-led suppression".
"These measures today are immoral, illegal, and un-American," they stated.
Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a non-governmental organization that fights digital hatred and misinformation, was also handed a ban.
Rogers called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to misuse the government against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were two executives of HateAid, which the State Department said helped enforce the DSA.
In a statement, the two leaders 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 stand up for human rights," they added.
Official Rationale
Rubio said that steps had been taken to enact entry bans on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".
"The administration has been clear that his national sovereignty foreign policy opposes violations of American sovereignty. Extraterritorial overreach by overseas regulators aimed at US expression is unacceptable," he affirmed.
