The United States has imposed visa bans on five European figures linked to the enforcement and advocacy of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), escalating an already tense transatlantic dispute over online speech and tech regulation. The move targets former EU commissioner Thierry Breton — a key architect of the DSA — along with four anti‑disinformation campaigners, according to reporting from CNBC and other outlets.
U.S. officials accuse the individuals of pressuring American technology companies to censor or suppress U.S. viewpoints, a claim the State Department tied to a visa policy introduced earlier this year aimed at restricting foreign actors deemed responsible for limiting protected speech online. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the targeted Europeans as “radical activists” and argued they had led coordinated efforts to influence content moderation on U.S. platforms.
European leaders have sharply condemned the decision, calling it an unprecedented intrusion into EU sovereignty and a politically charged attack on officials responsible for implementing European digital‑safety rules. France, Germany and EU officials expressed solidarity with those sanctioned and rejected Washington’s claims of censorship, according to multiple reports.
The Digital Services Act — which fully came into force in February 2024 — is the EU’s flagship online‑safety regulation, designed to increase platform accountability, strengthen user protections and impose stricter obligations on major tech companies. The law requires large platforms to manage systemic risks, improve transparency and curb illegal content, forming one of the world’s most comprehensive digital‑governance frameworks.
The U.S. visa bans mark a significant escalation in the political battle over how online platforms should be regulated, with Washington framing the DSA as a threat to free expression and European governments defending it as essential to public safety and democratic integrity. European officials have signalled they will seek clarification from Washington and may consider further steps in response.
The White House, Washington, D.C Picture from Picryl
