US Rejects Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Regarding Online Platform Policies
American diplomatic officials announced it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, among them a ex-European Union official, for allegedly seeking to "force" US-based online companies into curtailing viewpoints they disagree with.
"These individuals and aggressive non-profits have advanced suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case targeting US voices and US firms," stated Secretary of State the official.
The former European tech regulator implied that a "targeted campaign" was occurring.
Breton was described as the "mastermind" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which enforces content moderation on social media firms.
A Contentious Law
Yet, it has angered certain right-leaning Americans who view it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. EU authorities denies this.
Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, owner of platform X, over requirements to adhere to EU rules.
EU regulators imposed a penalty on X 120 million euros 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".
In response, Musk's site prevented the Commission from making adverts on its platform.
Reactions and Broader Bans
Responding to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "Addressing the US: Speech suppression does not lie where you think it is."
Clare Melford, who heads the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was included in the sanctions.
US Undersecretary of State the official alleged the GDI of using American public funds "to encourage censorship and targeting of American speech and press".
A GDI spokesperson characterized the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free speech and a blatant example of state-led suppression".
"Their actions today are immoral, illegal, and contrary to American values," the spokesperson added.
Another figure of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a non-governmental organization that combats digital hatred and misinformation, was also handed a ban.
Rogers called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with campaigns to weaponize the state apparatus against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were two executives of HateAid, which the State Department said aided in implementing the DSA.
In a statement, the two CEOs described it as an "attempt to silence by a administration that is increasingly disregarding the legal principles".
"We refuse to be silenced by a government that uses claims of suppression to silence those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they concluded.
Official Rationale
Rubio said that action was initiated 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 clear that his national sovereignty foreign policy opposes violations of US autonomy. Foreign-imposed regulations by overseas regulators aimed at American speech is unacceptable," he added.
