American diplomatic officials declared it would deny visas to a group of five people, including a former EU commissioner, for allegedly seeking to "force" US-based online companies into curtailing perspectives they oppose.
"These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have promoted censorship crackdowns by foreign states - in each case focusing on US voices and US firms," stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Thierry Breton implied that a "witch hunt" was taking place.
Officials labeled Breton as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which enforces content moderation on digital platforms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, the act has frustrated some US conservatives who view it as an attempt to silence right-wing opinions. Brussels rejects this characterization.
Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over obligations to follow EU rules.
EU regulators recently fined X 120 million euros over its verification system – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "meaningfully verifying users".
As a countermove, Musk's site prevented the European body from running advertisements on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Responding to the entry restriction, the former commissioner wrote on X: "To our American friends: Speech suppression isn't where you think it is."
Clare Melford, who leads the British disinformation research group, was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State the official alleged the GDI of using US taxpayer money "to encourage suppression and blacklisting of US expression and media".
A representative for the group said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free expression and a blatant example of government censorship".
"Their actions today are immoral, illegal, and un-American," the spokesperson added.
Another figure of the an online hate watchdog, a nonprofit that combats online hate and misinformation, was also handed a ban.
The undersecretary labeled Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with campaigns to misuse the government against US citizens".
Additionally facing restrictions were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of a German organization, which the US officials said aided in implementing the DSA.
Responding, the two leaders called it an "attempt to silence by a administration that is increasingly disregarding the rule of law".
"We refuse to be silenced by a government that uses accusations of censorship to muzzle those who defend fundamental freedoms," they added.
Official Rationale
The Secretary of State stated that action was initiated to impose visa restrictions on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".
"The administration has been explicit that his national sovereignty foreign policy rejects infringements of American sovereignty. Extraterritorial overreach by overseas regulators targeting American speech is no exception," he added.
