US Bars Activists And Former EU Commissioner For Alleged Social Media Censorship Effort

European leaders and activists who are suspected of pressing American platforms to censor speech are denied visas by the US.

Five people, including former European Union commissioner Thierry Breton, have had their visas revoked by the US on the grounds that they are trying to coerce US social media companies into censoring content.

The US State Department stated in a statement that the people wanted to “coerce” US-based platforms into censoring opinions they disagreed with. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they are a part of a “global censorship-industrial complex” that targets American businesses and speakers.

US authorities have identified Breton, the former top EU technology regulator, as the “mastermind” of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates content moderation on social media networks. US conservatives have criticized the law, claiming it stifles right-wing speech—a claim Brussels disputes.

In response to the visa suspension, Breton stated on X that there was a “witch hunt” going on and added, “To our American friends: Censorship isn’t where you think it is.”

Elon Musk, the owner of X, and Breton have previously argued about adherence to EU laws. Due to concerns about the deceptive nature of its blue tick verification method, the European Commission recently penalized X €120 million under the DSA. The Commission’s ability to advertise on the platform was later banned by X.

Clare Melford, the director of the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also subject to the visa restrictions. The group was charged by US Undersecretary of State Sarah B. Rogers for using public monies to promote censorship and blacklist American media sites.

The visa restrictions are illegal and un-American, according to a GDI spokesperson, who denounced the action as a “authoritarian attack on free speech.”

The Center for Countering Digital Hate’s CEO, Imran Ahmed, was likewise prohibited from entering the United States. According to Rogers, he was involved in an attempt to use government power as a weapon against Americans. A request for comment has been made to the organization.

Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon, the CEOs of the German digital rights organization HateAid, were also prohibited. Under the pretense of protecting free expression, they characterized the ruling as an act of repression intended to silence critics.

Rubio warned that foreign attempts to control or sway American discourse would not be accepted, claiming that the visa limits are a reflection of President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy.