The United States government has imposed entry bans on former EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and four European activists, escalating tensions over the regulation of online content and sparking accusations of political censorship. The move, announced by Senator Marco Rubio, acting as a de facto spokesperson for the State Department, alleges that the sanctioned individuals spearheaded coordinated efforts to compel US-based platforms to suppress American viewpoints.
Rubio’s statement characterized the activists and associated non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as “radical” and employed as “weapons” in a campaign to advance foreign censorship initiatives. He asserted that their actions posed a “potential severe negative foreign policy consequences” for the United States, justifying the imposition of visa restrictions targeting what he termed “representatives of the global censorship-industrial complex.
The sanctions specifically target Breton, whose involvement in crafting the EU’s “Digital Services Act” (DSA) has long been a source of friction with administrations in Washington, particularly during the Trump era. The DSA mandates that large technology platforms actively reduce the presence of illegal and harmful content, a requirement perceived by some US stakeholders as an infringement upon free speech principles and a potential impediment to American tech companies’ global dominance.
Breton swiftly condemned the sanctions, drawing a parallel to the McCarthy era, a period marked by intense political repression and accusations of communist affiliations. In a public statement, he questioned the sincerity of US concerns regarding censorship, arguing, “To our American friends: censorship is not where you think it is”. Other organizations implicated in the sanctions echoed this sentiment, decrying the move as an authoritarian assault on freedom of expression and a thinly veiled attempt to silence dissent critical of US technological and political influence.
The situation raises critical questions about the US’s approach to regulating online content within the EU, the validity of accusations surrounding censorship practices and the potential for escalating diplomatic disputes rooted in differing interpretations of principles of free speech and digital governance. Legal challenges are expected from those sanctioned and the broader implications for transatlantic relations, especially concerning digital trade and data regulation, remain to be seen. The move also risks further cementing a narrative of US intervention in European regulatory processes, potentially undermining the EU’s autonomy in shaping its digital future.
