The United States has imposed visa restrictions on five individuals, including former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton, accusing them of attempting to coerce American social‑media companies into censoring content. According to the State Department, these individuals sought to suppress viewpoints they oppose on U.S.–based platforms. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described them as part of a global effort targeting American speakers and companies, which he termed a “censorship‑industrial complex.”
Breton, who previously served as the EU’s top technology regulator, was singled out for his role in developing the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA requires social‑media platforms to moderate content, a provision that U.S. conservatives criticize for suppressing right‑wing speech. The European Commission recently fined X €120 million under the DSA, citing concerns over its verification system.
The visa restrictions also apply to Clare Melford, head of the UK‑based Global Disinformation Index (GDI). U.S. Undersecretary of State Sarah B. Rogers accused her of using taxpayer funds to encourage censorship and to blacklist American media outlets. The GDI condemned the move as an “authoritarian attack on free speech,” calling the bans unlawful and un‑American.
In addition, the CEOs of the German digital‑rights group HateAid, Anna‑Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon, have been barred from entering the United States. They described the decision as repression aimed at silencing critics under the guise of defending free speech.
The United States emphasizes that the visa restrictions reflect its commitment to protecting American speech and companies from foreign influence. The action underscores the complexities of balancing regulation with free‑speech protections and is likely to have far‑reaching consequences for international cooperation on digital governance and the future of online content moderation.
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