US Denies Entry Permits to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Regarding Online Platform Rules
American diplomatic officials declared it would refuse entry permits to a group of five people, including a ex-European Union official, for reportedly seeking to "force" American social media platforms into suppressing viewpoints they oppose.
"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have advanced suppression campaigns by other governments - in each case focusing on US voices and American companies," remarked US diplomat Marco Rubio.
The former European tech regulator suggested that a "witch hunt" was occurring.
Breton was described as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes content moderation on social media firms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who see it as an attempt to silence right-wing opinions. Brussels rejects this characterization.
The official has been in conflict with the billionaire entrepreneur, the world's richest man, over requirements to follow EU rules.
EU regulators recently fined X 120 million euros 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".
In response, the platform blocked the Commission from making adverts on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Reacting to the visa ban, the former commissioner wrote on X: "Addressing the US: Censorship does not lie where you think it is."
Clare Melford, who leads the UK-based disinformation research group, was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State the official alleged the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage suppression and targeting of American speech and media".
A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free speech and a blatant example of state-led suppression".
"Their actions today are unethical, unlawful, and un-American," they stated.
Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban.
The undersecretary labeled Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to weaponize the government against American people".
Also subject to bans were two executives of HateAid, which the US officials said helped enforce the DSA.
Responding, the two leaders described it as an "attempt to silence by a administration that is increasingly disregarding the rule of law".
"We refuse to be silenced by a government that uses accusations of censorship to muzzle those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they added.
Official Rationale
The Secretary of State stated that steps had been taken to impose visa restrictions on "agents of the global censorship-industrial complex" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".
"President Trump has been explicit that his America First foreign policy rejects infringements of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by foreign censors targeting US expression is no exception," he added.
