US Denies Entry Permits to Former European Union Official and Additional Figures Concerning Online Platform Rules
The US State Department announced it would deny visas to a group of five people, among them a ex-European Union official, for allegedly seeking to "force" American social media platforms into silencing perspectives they disagree with.
"These individuals and aggressive non-profits have promoted suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case targeting American speakers and US firms," remarked Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Thierry Breton remarked that a "witch hunt" was occurring.
Breton was described as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on digital platforms.
A Divisive Regulation
Yet, the act has frustrated some US conservatives who see it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. Brussels rejects this characterization.
Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over obligations to follow EU rules.
The European Commission recently fined X €120m over its verification system – the first fine under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
In response, the platform blocked the Commission from running advertisements on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
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 leads the British disinformation research group, was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State Sarah B Rogers accused the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to exhort censorship and blacklisting of US expression and press".
A GDI spokesperson said the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free expression and an egregious act of government censorship".
"Their actions today are immoral, illegal, and un-American," the spokesperson added.
Another figure of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats digital hatred and misinformation, was similarly issued a ban.
The undersecretary labeled Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with efforts to misuse the government against American people".
Additionally facing restrictions were two executives of a German organization, which the US officials said aided in implementing the DSA.
In a statement, the two CEOs called it an "act of repression by a administration that is showing disregard for the legal principles".
"We refuse to be silenced by a government that uses accusations of censorship to muzzle those who defend human rights," they added.
Policy Justification
The Secretary of State stated that action was initiated to enact entry bans on "representatives of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States".
"The administration has been explicit that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance opposes violations of American sovereignty. Extraterritorial overreach by overseas regulators targeting American speech is unacceptable," he added.
