🔗 Share this article US Denies Entry Permits to Ex-EU Commissioner and Others Regarding Online Platform Rules Thierry Breton, has previously clashed with the owner of platform X. American diplomatic officials announced it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, among them a former EU commissioner, for reportedly seeking to "pressure" US-based online companies into silencing viewpoints they oppose. "These individuals and weaponized NGOs have promoted suppression campaigns by other governments - in each case focusing on US voices and US firms," remarked US diplomat the official. Thierry Breton implied that a "witch hunt" was taking place. Officials labeled Breton as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on digital platforms. A Contentious Law Yet, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who view it as an attempt to silence right-wing opinions. EU authorities denies this. Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over obligations to adhere to European regulations. The European Commission imposed a penalty on X €120m over its blue tick badges – the first fine under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users". As a countermove, the platform prevented the Commission from running advertisements on its platform. Reactions and Broader Bans Responding to the entry restriction, the former commissioner wrote on X: "Addressing the US: Censorship isn't where you think it is." Clare Melford, who heads the UK-based disinformation research group, was included in the sanctions. US Undersecretary of State the official accused the GDI of using American public funds "to encourage suppression and targeting of US expression and press". A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free speech and a blatant example of state-led suppression". "These measures today are unethical, illegal, and un-American," the spokesperson added. Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats online hate and false information, was also handed a ban. The undersecretary called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to misuse the state apparatus against US citizens". Also subject to bans were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, which the State Department said helped enforce the DSA. In a statement, the two CEOs called it an "attempt to silence 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 stand up for human rights," they concluded. Official Rationale The Secretary of State stated that action was initiated to impose visa restrictions on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States". "President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects infringements of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by overseas regulators targeting US expression is no exception," he added.
Thierry Breton, has previously clashed with the owner of platform X. American diplomatic officials announced it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, among them a former EU commissioner, for reportedly seeking to "pressure" US-based online companies into silencing viewpoints they oppose. "These individuals and weaponized NGOs have promoted suppression campaigns by other governments - in each case focusing on US voices and US firms," remarked US diplomat the official. Thierry Breton implied that a "witch hunt" was taking place. Officials labeled Breton as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on digital platforms. A Contentious Law Yet, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who view it as an attempt to silence right-wing opinions. EU authorities denies this. Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over obligations to adhere to European regulations. The European Commission imposed a penalty on X €120m over its blue tick badges – the first fine under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users". As a countermove, the platform prevented the Commission from running advertisements on its platform. Reactions and Broader Bans Responding to the entry restriction, the former commissioner wrote on X: "Addressing the US: Censorship isn't where you think it is." Clare Melford, who heads the UK-based disinformation research group, was included in the sanctions. US Undersecretary of State the official accused the GDI of using American public funds "to encourage suppression and targeting of US expression and press". A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free speech and a blatant example of state-led suppression". "These measures today are unethical, illegal, and un-American," the spokesperson added. Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats online hate and false information, was also handed a ban. The undersecretary called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to misuse the state apparatus against US citizens". Also subject to bans were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, which the State Department said helped enforce the DSA. In a statement, the two CEOs called it an "attempt to silence 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 stand up for human rights," they concluded. Official Rationale The Secretary of State stated that action was initiated to impose visa restrictions on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States". "President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects infringements of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by overseas regulators targeting US expression is no exception," he added.