🔗 Share this article US Rejects Entry Permits to Ex-EU Commissioner and Additional Figures Regarding Social Media Policies The former top tech regulator, has previously clashed with the owner of platform X. The US State Department stated it would refuse entry permits to a group of five people, among them a ex-European Union official, for allegedly seeking to "pressure" US-based online companies into silencing opinions they disagree with. "These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have promoted suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case focusing on American speakers and US firms," remarked Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The former European tech regulator suggested that a "witch hunt" was underway. Breton was described as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on social media firms. A Contentious Law However, it has angered certain right-leaning Americans who see it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. Brussels denies this. Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over obligations to adhere to European regulations. EU regulators recently fined X 120 million euros over its verification system – the first fine under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users". As a countermove, the platform blocked the Commission 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 Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed. US Undersecretary of State the official accused the GDI of using American public funds "to exhort suppression and blacklisting of US expression and press". A GDI spokesperson characterized the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free expression and an egregious act of government censorship". "Their actions today are unethical, unlawful, and un-American," they stated. Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a nonprofit that combats digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban. The undersecretary labeled Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with campaigns to misuse the state apparatus against American people". Also subject to bans were two executives of a German organization, which the State Department said aided in implementing the DSA. In a statement, the two CEOs described it as an "act of repression by a government that is showing disregard for the rule of law". "We will not be intimidated by a state that uses accusations of censorship to muzzle those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they added. Policy Justification Rubio said that action was initiated to impose entry bans on "representatives of the global censorship-industrial complex" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States". "The administration has been clear that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance opposes violations of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by foreign censors aimed at US expression is unacceptable," he added.
The former top tech regulator, has previously clashed with the owner of platform X. The US State Department stated it would refuse entry permits to a group of five people, among them a ex-European Union official, for allegedly seeking to "pressure" US-based online companies into silencing opinions they disagree with. "These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have promoted suppression campaigns by foreign states - in each case focusing on American speakers and US firms," remarked Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The former European tech regulator suggested that a "witch hunt" was underway. Breton was described as the "architect" of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes speech regulations on social media firms. A Contentious Law However, it has angered certain right-leaning Americans who see it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. Brussels denies this. Breton has clashed with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over obligations to adhere to European regulations. EU regulators recently fined X 120 million euros over its verification system – the first fine under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users". As a countermove, the platform blocked the Commission 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 Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed. US Undersecretary of State the official accused the GDI of using American public funds "to exhort suppression and blacklisting of US expression and press". A GDI spokesperson characterized the visa sanctions as "an authoritarian attack on free expression and an egregious act of government censorship". "Their actions today are unethical, unlawful, and un-American," they stated. Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a nonprofit that combats digital hatred and false information, was also handed a ban. The undersecretary labeled Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with campaigns to misuse the state apparatus against American people". Also subject to bans were two executives of a German organization, which the State Department said aided in implementing the DSA. In a statement, the two CEOs described it as an "act of repression by a government that is showing disregard for the rule of law". "We will not be intimidated by a state that uses accusations of censorship to muzzle those who stand up for fundamental freedoms," they added. Policy Justification Rubio said that action was initiated to impose entry bans on "representatives of the global censorship-industrial complex" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States". "The administration has been clear that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance opposes violations of American sovereignty. Foreign-imposed regulations by foreign censors aimed at US expression is unacceptable," he added.