BRUSSELS — France, Germany, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have expressed strong opposition to a recent U.S. decision to impose travel bans on five Europeans. The Trump administration claims these individuals have exerted pressure on technology companies to censor or suppress American opinions.
The European Commission, responsible for overseeing tech legislation in Europe, warned it would respond to what it called “unjustified measures.” The Commission has sought clarification from the U.S. State Department, which announced the bans earlier this week.
Those banned include Thierry Breton, the former EU commissioner overseeing social media regulations, characterized by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “radical” activists and representatives of “weaponized” NGOs. Breton recently had a high-profile disagreement with tech billionaire Elon Musk regarding the airing of an interview with Donald Trump prior to last year’s U.S. election.
In a post on social media, Rubio stated that the Trump administration will no longer tolerate what he described as “egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship” driven by European ideologues seeking to punish American viewpoints.
The European Commission countered by asserting that the EU is committed to a rules-based single market that allows for the regulation of economic activity in alignment with democratic values and international responsibilities. It emphasized that its digital rules create a safe and level playing field for all companies, applied consistently without discrimination.
French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his support for Breton, writing that he “will stand firm against pressure and will protect Europeans.” Macron stressed that the EU’s digital regulations stem from a democratic process involving all member states and the European Parliament, reaffirming that these rules should not be dictated by external entities.
Alongside Breton, the individuals banned include Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, German activists Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg from HateAid, and Clare Melford of the Global Disinformation Index. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned the entry bans, calling them “not acceptable,” and signaled Germany’s intentions to engage with the U.S. regarding its interpretation of EU digital regulations.
EU Council President António Costa also described the U.S. actions as “unacceptable between allies.” He reiterated the EU’s commitment to uphold freedom of expression, equitable digital regulations, and regulatory sovereignty.
The U.K. government recognized the right of nations to impose visa rules but commended efforts aimed at protecting the internet from harmful content.
These bans are linked to a newly established visa policy intended to restrict entry for individuals allegedly responsible for censorship against protected speech in the United States. Rubio warned that the actions of the banned individuals could result in significant adverse foreign policy ramifications for the U.S.
This incident forms part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to combat foreign influence on online discourse, utilizing immigration policy instead of direct regulatory measures against social media platforms.
In a recent statement, U.S. under secretary of state for public diplomacy Sarah Rogers labeled Breton as the “mastermind” behind the EU’s Digital Services Act, which imposes stringent requirements to ensure online safety by identifying and flagging harmful content, including hate speech. Breton defended the act, highlighting the unanimous support it received from all 27 EU member countries in 2022, and suggested that the real issue of censorship lies elsewhere.