US Denies Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Others Regarding Online Platform Rules
American diplomatic officials declared it would deny visas to a group of five people, including a ex-European Union official, for reportedly seeking to "pressure" American online companies into silencing opinions they disagree with.
"These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states - in each case focusing on US voices and American companies," remarked Secretary of State the official.
The former European tech regulator remarked that a "witch hunt" was occurring.
Officials labeled Breton as the "key designer" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes content moderation on social media firms.
A Contentious Law
Yet, it has angered some US conservatives who see it as seeking to censor right-wing opinions. EU authorities rejects this characterization.
Breton has clashed with the billionaire entrepreneur, owner of platform X, over obligations to adhere to EU rules.
The European Commission recently fined X 120 million euros over its blue tick badges – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
As a countermove, Musk's site prevented the European body from running advertisements on its platform.
Reactions and Broader Bans
Reacting to the entry restriction, Breton posted on X: "To our American friends: Speech suppression isn't where you think it is."
Another listed individual, who heads the British disinformation research group, was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State Sarah B Rogers alleged the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to exhort censorship and targeting of US expression and media".
A representative for the group characterized the entry bans as "an authoritarian attack on free expression and a blatant example of government censorship".
"Their actions today are immoral, unlawful, and contrary to American values," they stated.
Another figure of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that fights online hate and misinformation, was also handed a ban.
The undersecretary called Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with efforts to misuse the government against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of a German organization, 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 showing disregard for the legal principles".
"We refuse to be silenced by a government that uses claims of suppression 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 "representatives of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States".
"President Trump has been explicit that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance rejects infringements of US autonomy. Foreign-imposed regulations by foreign censors aimed at American speech is unacceptable," he affirmed.
