US Rejects Entry Permits to Former European Union Official and Others Over Online Platform Policies

American diplomatic officials stated it would refuse entry permits to five individuals, including a ex-European Union official, for reportedly seeking to "force" US-based online companies into suppressing opinions they oppose.

"These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have promoted censorship crackdowns by foreign states - in each case focusing on American speakers and American companies," said US diplomat Marco Rubio.

The former European tech regulator implied that a "targeted campaign" was taking place.

Officials labeled Breton as the "architect" of the European Union's online content law, which enforces content moderation on digital platforms.

A Contentious Law

Yet, it has angered some US conservatives who see it as seeking to censor conservative viewpoints. EU authorities denies this.

The official has been in conflict with the billionaire entrepreneur, owner of platform X, over obligations to adhere to EU rules.

The European Commission recently fined X €120m over its verification system – the inaugural penalty under the DSA. It said the platform's system was "deceptive" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".

As a countermove, Musk's site prevented the European body from running advertisements on its platform.

Reactions and Broader Bans

Responding to the entry restriction, Breton posted on X: "To our American friends: Censorship does not lie where you think it is."

Another listed individual, who heads the UK-based disinformation research group, was included in the sanctions.

A senior US diplomat the official accused the GDI of using American public funds "to exhort censorship and targeting of American speech and press".

A GDI spokesperson said the entry bans as "a repressive move on free expression and an egregious act of government censorship".

"These measures today are unethical, unlawful, and un-American," they stated.

Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats online hate and misinformation, was also handed a ban.

Rogers labeled Mr Ahmed a "primary partner with campaigns to misuse the government against US citizens".

Also subject to bans were two executives of HateAid, which the US officials said helped enforce the DSA.

In a statement, the two leaders described it as an "act of repression 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 stand up for fundamental freedoms," they added.

Official Rationale

Rubio said that steps had been taken to impose entry bans on "agents of the international suppression network" who would be "generally barred from entering the United States".

"President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy opposes infringements of US autonomy. Foreign-imposed regulations by overseas regulators targeting US expression is no exception," he added.