US Rejects Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Concerning Online Platform Regulations
American diplomatic officials announced it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, including a former EU commissioner, for reportedly seeking to "pressure" US-based social media platforms into curtailing opinions they disagree with.
"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have advanced suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case targeting American speakers and US firms," stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The former European tech regulator remarked that a "targeted campaign" was underway.
Officials labeled Breton as the "architect" 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 seeking to censor right-wing opinions. Brussels rejects this characterization.
Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, owner of platform X, over obligations to adhere to European regulations.
The European Commission imposed a penalty on X €120m over its blue tick badges – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
As a countermove, the platform prevented the European body from making adverts on its platform.
Reactions and Broader Bans
Reacting to the entry restriction, Breton posted on X: "To our American friends: Censorship 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 encourage suppression and blacklisting of US expression and media".
A GDI spokesperson said the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free speech and an egregious act of state-led suppression".
"Their actions today are unethical, unlawful, and contrary to American values," the spokesperson added.
Another figure of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban.
Rogers labeled Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator 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 called it an "attempt to silence by a administration that is showing disregard for 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 concluded.
Policy Justification
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 America First diplomatic stance rejects infringements of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by overseas regulators targeting American speech is unacceptable," he added.
