In a significant escalation of transatlantic tensions over digital regulation, the US State Department announced on December 23, 2025, visa restrictions on five Europeans, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton. The move targets individuals accused of pressuring American tech platforms to censor or suppress viewpoints, particularly under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the sanctioned individuals as leading “organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.” He labeled them “radical activists and weaponized NGOs” advancing “censorship crackdowns by foreign states” against US companies and speakers. The restrictions, invoked under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, bar entry to the US and could lead to removal proceedings for those already present. Rubio warned the list could expand if similar actions continue.
The most prominent target is Thierry Breton, the French former commissioner for the internal market (2019-2024) and chief architect of the DSA. US officials, including Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, called him the “mastermind” behind the law, accusing him of using it to threaten platforms like Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). Breton frequently clashed with Musk over compliance with EU rules on content moderation, illegal content removal, transparency, and disinformation risks.
The other four are leaders of organizations combating online hate and misinformation:
- Imran Ahmed, CEO of the UK/US-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), criticized for reports like the “Disinformation Dozen” targeting anti-vaccine figures.
- Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg from Germany’s HateAid, described as “trusted flaggers” under the DSA.
- Clare Melford, head of the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), accused of using US funds to promote blacklisting of American media.
The DSA, effective since 2024, requires large platforms to explain moderation decisions, curb illegal content, enhance advertising transparency, and grant researchers data access to study harms like disinformation or risks to minors. The EU insists it promotes accountability without targeting political speech and applies only within its borders.
US conservatives, however, view it as extraterritorial overreach stifling right-wing voices. The action follows recent EU fines on X for DSA violations and US warnings of retaliation against European firms like Siemens, Spotify, and DHL. It aligns with broader Trump administration criticism of European regs, including the UK’s Online Safety Act.
Reactions were swift and sharp. Breton called it a “witch hunt” reminiscent of McCarthyism, posting on X: “Censorship isn’t where you think it is.” He noted the DSA’s unanimous approval by EU member states and 90% of the European Parliament.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the bans as unacceptable interference, stressing the DSA’s democratic legitimacy and lack of extraterritorial effect. HateAid leaders vowed not to be intimidated, framing the move as obstructing human rights work.
Analysts see this as highlighting a deepening philosophical divide: Europe’s focus on platform accountability and harm reduction versus America’s emphasis on robust free speech protections, even for controversial content. With global tech firms navigating conflicting rules, such clashes risk broader trade and diplomatic fallout in the digital era.
