24.12.2025
The United States has imposed travel bans on former European Union technology commissioner Thierry Breton and four other campaigners against online hate and disinformation, alleging they had forced U.S. social media platforms to limit Americans’ first amendment rights.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Tuesday that the five had “led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetise and suppress” the views of Americans with whom they disagreed.
Beton was singled out by U.S. Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers as the “mastermind” of European laws that require social media that operate in the 27-country bloc to adhere to content moderation and other standards to protect users, and children in particular, from harm.
Meanwhile, the EU said it would retaliate and has asked the US for more clarifications.
“If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,” the commission said in a statement, without elaborating.
“Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination,” it said.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union will continue protecting freedom of speech.
“Freedom of speech is the foundation of our strong and vibrant European democracy. We are proud of it. We will protect it,” she said in a post on social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that the visa restrictions “amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty”.
Mr Macron said the rules “ensure fair competition among platforms, without targeting any third country” and that “the rules governing the European Union’s digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe”. Agency reports