The United States Denies Entry Permits to Former European Union Official and Others Regarding Social Media Rules
The US State Department announced it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, including a former EU commissioner, for reportedly seeking to "pressure" US-based social media platforms into suppressing viewpoints they disagree with.
"These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by other governments - in each case targeting American speakers and American companies," stated Secretary of State the official.
Thierry Breton implied that a "witch hunt" was occurring.
Breton was described as the "mastermind" of the European Union's online content law, which enforces content moderation on social media firms.
A Contentious Law
However, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who see it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. EU authorities rejects this characterization.
Breton has clashed with the billionaire entrepreneur, the world's richest man, over obligations to adhere to EU rules.
EU regulators imposed a penalty on X €120m over its blue tick badges – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".
As a countermove, Musk's site prevented the European body from making adverts on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Responding to the entry restriction, the former commissioner wrote on X: "To our American friends: Speech suppression isn't where you think it is."
Another listed individual, who heads the British Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed.
A senior US diplomat Sarah B Rogers accused the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage censorship and blacklisting of American speech and media".
A representative for the group said the entry bans as "an authoritarian attack on free speech and a blatant example of state-led suppression".
"These measures today are immoral, illegal, and contrary to American values," the spokesperson added.
Another figure of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats digital hatred and misinformation, was similarly issued a ban.
Rogers called Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with campaigns to weaponize the government against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, which the US officials said aided in implementing the DSA.
Responding, the two CEOs described it as an "act of repression by a government that is showing disregard for the rule of law".
"We will not be intimidated by a government that uses accusations of censorship to muzzle those who defend human rights," they added.
Official Rationale
The Secretary of State stated that steps had been taken to enact entry bans on "representatives of the global censorship-industrial complex" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States".
"President Trump has been explicit that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance opposes infringements of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by overseas regulators targeting US expression is unacceptable," he added.