US Rejects Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Over Social Media Rules

The US State Department announced it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, including a former EU commissioner, for allegedly seeking to "coerce" US-based social media platforms into curtailing viewpoints they oppose.

"These individuals and aggressive non-profits have promoted suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case focusing on American speakers and US firms," remarked US diplomat Marco Rubio.

The former European tech regulator remarked that a "witch hunt" was taking place.

Breton was described as the "mastermind" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on social media firms.

A Divisive Regulation

Yet, it has angered some US conservatives who view it as seeking to censor conservative viewpoints. Brussels rejects this characterization.

Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, owner of platform X, over obligations to adhere to European regulations.

EU regulators recently fined X 120 million euros over its blue tick badges – the first fine under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".

As a countermove, the platform prevented the Commission from making adverts on its platform.

Responses and Additional Restrictions

Responding to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "Addressing the US: Censorship isn't where you think it is."

Another listed individual, who leads the UK-based disinformation research group, was also listed.

A senior US diplomat Sarah B Rogers alleged the GDI of using American public funds "to exhort censorship and blacklisting of American speech and media".

A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free expression and a blatant example of government censorship".

"Their actions today are immoral, unlawful, and un-American," they stated.

Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that fights digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban.

The undersecretary called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with efforts to misuse the state apparatus against American people".

Also subject to bans were two executives of HateAid, which the US officials said aided in implementing the DSA.

In a statement, the two CEOs described it as an "attempt to silence by a government that is showing disregard for the rule of law".

"We will not be intimidated by a government that uses claims of suppression to silence those who defend fundamental freedoms," they concluded.

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 "generally barred from entering the United States".

"The administration has been clear that his national sovereignty foreign policy opposes violations of US autonomy. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting US expression is no exception," he affirmed.