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US Imposes Visa Bans on Ex-EU Commissioner Over "Censorship" Claims

The United States has imposed visa bans on former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other Europeans, accusing them of orchestrating censorship campaigns against American viewpoints on tech platforms. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned what he called "egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship," linking the action to the EU's enforcement of the Digital Services Act. The European Commission and French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the measures, defending the EU's democratic regulations and viewing the bans as coercion undermining European digital sovereignty. The dispute highlights escalating tensions over digital governance, following recent EU fines against Elon Musk's X platform for breaches of the same act.

Key Points: US Visa Bans on EU Figures Spark Transatlantic Digital Sovereignty Row

  • US accuses Europeans of "extraterritorial censorship"
  • EU condemns bans, cites freedom of expression
  • France calls it an attack on digital sovereignty
  • Row linked to EU's Digital Services Act enforcement
  • Tensions follow EU fine on Elon Musk's X platform
3 min read

US imposes visa bans on ex-EU commissioner, four others; European Commission seeks clarification

The US bans visas for ex-EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and four Europeans, accusing them of suppressing American speech. The EU and France condemn the move as coercion.

"For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio"

Washington, December 26

The United States has imposed visa bans on a former European Union Commissioner, Thierry Breton, and four other Europeans, accusing them of "organised efforts" to suppress "American viewpoints," Al Jazeera reported.

The US alleged that the five Europeans pressured tech companies to censor free speech.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that the five Europeans had "advanced censorship crackdowns" against "American speakers and American companies", Al Jazeera reported.

"For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship," he said on X.

According to Al Jazeera, Sarah Rogers, the undersecretary for public diplomacy, accused Breton of using the EU's Digital Services Act to threaten Elon Musk, the owner of X, ahead of an interview he conducted with United States President Donald Trump during his election campaign.

The European Commission strongly condemned the move, citing freedom of expression. The commission has sought clarification from the US authorities.

In a statement, the European Commission said, "The European Commission strongly condemns the US decision to impose travel restrictions on five European individuals, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world. The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments."

"Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination. We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures," the commission added.

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the US' decision, terming it as "coercion" to undermine European digital sovereignty.

Macron wrote on X, "France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures. These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty."

"The European Union's digital regulations were adopted following a democratic and sovereign process by the European Parliament and the Council. They apply within Europe to ensure fair competition among platforms, without targeting any third country, and to ensure that what is illegal offline is also illegal online. The rules governing the European Union's digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe. Together with the European Commission and our European partners, we will continue to defend our digital sovereignty and our regulatory autonomy," the French President added.

The DSA has recently sparked tensions in US-EU relations, Al Jazeera said. The row escalated after the European Union imposed a fine on Elon Musk-owned social media platform 'X' for breaching the Digital Services Act, citing lapses in advertising transparency and shortcomings in measures to verify users.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Interesting to watch this from India. Both sides are talking about sovereignty. The EU wants digital sovereignty, the US wants to protect its companies' speech. India needs to carefully navigate these waters with its own policies. We must ensure our rules protect our citizens without getting dragged into these geopolitical spats.
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Aditya G
Frankly, the US accusation sounds hypocritical. American tech platforms have been accused of bias and censorship in India and elsewhere too. Now they cry foul when another region tries to set rules? Every democracy has the right to regulate content that is illegal within its borders. The DSA is about creating a level playing field, not targeting American views.
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Priyanka N
As an Indian, I see both sides. Unchecked speech on social media is a real problem – we've seen its effects here with misinformation. The EU's attempt to bring accountability is commendable. But the US reaction, while extreme, highlights a valid concern: who decides what is "illegal" speech? It's a complex issue with no easy answers. 🤔
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Karthik V
This is just a power struggle between two blocs. The core issue is who controls the global digital narrative. India should take note and strengthen its own position. We need our own robust frameworks so we aren't caught between such clashes. Jai Hind!
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Michael C
Respectfully, I think the US action is a mistake. Visa bans are a blunt instrument that escalates tensions unnecessarily. There are diplomatic channels for these disputes. This feels more like political posturing in an election year than a thoughtful foreign policy move. The EU's request for clarification is the right first step.

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