US Denies Entry Permits to Ex-EU Commissioner and Others Over Online Platform Regulations

American diplomatic officials stated it would refuse entry permits to a group of five people, including a former EU commissioner, for allegedly seeking to "pressure" US-based social media platforms into silencing opinions they disagree with.

"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have advanced suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case targeting American speakers and American companies," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Thierry Breton suggested that a "witch hunt" was taking place.

Officials labeled Breton as the "key designer" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates content moderation on digital platforms.

A Divisive Regulation

However, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who view it as seeking to censor conservative viewpoints. EU authorities denies this.

The official has been in conflict with Elon Musk, owner of platform X, over requirements to adhere to European regulations.

EU regulators recently fined X €120m over its blue tick badges – the first fine under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".

In response, Musk's site prevented the Commission from running advertisements on its platform.

Reactions and Broader Bans

Responding to the entry restriction, the former commissioner wrote on X: "To our American friends: Speech suppression isn't where you think it is."

Clare Melford, who heads the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed.

A senior US diplomat the official alleged the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage suppression and targeting of US expression and media".

A GDI spokesperson characterized the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free expression and an egregious act of government censorship".

"Their actions today are unethical, illegal, and contrary to American values," they stated.

Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that combats online hate and false information, was similarly issued a ban.

Rogers called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with campaigns to misuse the government against US citizens".

Also subject to bans were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, which the US officials said helped enforce the DSA.

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

"We refuse to be silenced by a state that uses claims of suppression to silence those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they concluded.

Policy Justification

Rubio said that action was initiated to impose entry bans on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States".

"President Trump has been clear that his national sovereignty foreign policy opposes violations of US autonomy. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting American speech is unacceptable," he added.