EU Warns of Possible Action Over US Visa Bans on Five Europeans Accused of Censorship
The European Commission has warned of possible action against the United States following visa bans imposed on five Europeans accused of pressuring US tech firms to censor or limit US viewpoints. The Commission is seeking clarification regarding this decision.
The five individuals sanctioned are Thierry Breton, Imran Ahmed, Josephine Ballon, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, and Clare Melford. Notably, Breton is the EU commissioner responsible for overseeing social media rules.
According to the US State Department, the bans target foreigners who advanced censorship campaigns against Americans and US companies, linked to a visa policy introduced in May 2025 that bars entry to foreigners accused of censoring protected speech in the United States.
The EU Commission strongly condemns the bans, emphasizing that freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe. It vowed to defend regulatory autonomy and seek a level playing field in digital rules.
UK government representatives reiterated commitment to free speech and support for laws designed to keep the internet free from harmful content.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU will continue protecting freedom of speech within European democracy.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the visa restrictions as intimidation and coercion against European digital sovereignty. Macron highlighted that EU digital rules were democratically adopted and should not be dictated outside Europe.
Germany’s justice ministry condemned the bans on two German activists as unacceptable and affirmed that digital rules should be decided in Europe rather than in Washington.
A spokesperson for the Global Disinformation Index criticized the bans as an authoritarian attack on free speech, alleging that the Trump administration uses the federal government to intimidate voices it disagrees with.
