EU Executive Issues Warning Over US Travel Restrictions
On Wednesday, the European Union's executive branch cautioned that it would take measures against any "unjustified actions" following the US State Department's decision to prohibit five Europeans from entering the United States. These individuals are accused of influencing American technology companies to suppress or censor viewpoints from the US.
US Official Labels Activists as "Radical"
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Europeans as "radical" activists and "weaponized" non-governmental organizations. Among them is Thierry Breton, the former EU commissioner who oversaw social media regulations. Breton, a businessman and former French finance minister, had a public dispute with tech billionaire Elon Musk last year regarding the broadcast of an online interview with Donald Trump ahead of the US election.
The European Commission, which supervises technology regulation in Europe, stated that it "strongly condemns the US decision to impose travel restrictions" and has sought clarification on the matter. French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced his condemnation.
"If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures," the commission declared in a statement, without providing further details.
Rubio's Accusations and EU's Defense
In a post on X on Tuesday, Rubio asserted that "for far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose." He added, "The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship."
The European Commission countered by emphasizing that "the EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments." It noted that "our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination."
Macron posted on X that the visa restrictions "amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty." He explained that the EU's digital rules were established through "a democratic and sovereign process" involving all member states and the European Parliament, ensuring "fair competition among platforms, without targeting any third country." He stressed that "the rules governing the European Union's digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe."
Background on the Visa Policy and Affected Individuals
Breton and the group of Europeans were affected by a new visa policy announced in May, which restricts entry for foreigners considered responsible for censoring protected speech in the United States. The other four individuals are: Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of the German organization HateAid; and Clare Melford, who heads the Global Disinformation Index.
Rubio claimed that these five have promoted foreign government censorship campaigns against Americans and US companies, leading to "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States. The travel bans are part of a Trump administration initiative to combat foreign influence over online speech, utilizing immigration law instead of platform regulations or penalties.
Response from US and Breton
In a post on X on Tuesday, Sarah Rogers, the US under secretary of state for public diplomacy, referred to Breton as the "mastermind" behind the EU's Digital Services Act. This legislation imposes strict requirements to protect internet users online, including identifying harmful or illegal content such as hate speech.
Breton responded on X by pointing out that all 27 EU member countries voted for the Digital Services Act in 2022. He wrote, "To our American friends: 'Censorship isn't where you think it is.'"
