The United States has imposed visa bans on several European officials, including Thierry Breton, a former European Union commissioner, due to their roles in shaping the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). This legislation aims to regulate online content and combat misinformation, but Washington claims it infringes on free speech and disproportionately impacts US technology companies. The visa restrictions highlight mounting tensions between the US and European nations over digital governance, free expression, and other international issues.
On December 5, 2023, the US State Department announced the visa bans, describing Breton as a “mastermind” behind the DSA. This action also affects other anti-disinformation advocates, including Imran Ahmed, CEO of the US-based Center for Countering Digital Hate; Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from the German non-profit HateAid; and Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index. The move underscores the growing divide between Washington and European capitals on various issues, including immigration, trade, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the visa bans, asserting that the DSA was enacted through a democratic process and has “no extraterritorial reach.” He emphasized that the rules governing Europe’s digital landscape should not be dictated by the US. “The peoples of Europe are free and sovereign and cannot let the rules governing their digital space be imposed by others upon them,” Barrot stated.
Breton, who served as the European commissioner for the internal market from 2019 to 2024, expressed his discontent on social media, suggesting that the US was engaging in “censorship.” He referred to the overwhelming support for the DSA, noting that it was approved by 90% of the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states. “To our American friends: Censorship isn’t where you think it is,” he tweeted.
The DSA aims to create a safer online environment by holding technology giants accountable for illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual abuse material. However, US officials contend that the EU’s approach imposes “undue” restrictions on freedom of expression. The recent visa bans come shortly after a US National Security Strategy document warned that Europe faces “civilizational erasure” and must adapt to remain a reliable ally.
In response to the bans, Stephane Sejourne, Breton’s successor in the EU, reiterated support for the DSA. He stated that “no sanction will silence the sovereignty of the European peoples,” reinforcing the notion that European digital policies will not be swayed by external pressures.
The situation reflects broader concerns about transatlantic relations, especially as the US government previously sanctioned French Judge Nicolas Yann Guillou for his role in the International Criminal Court’s investigations involving Israeli leaders. The German government has also voiced its disapproval of the visa bans, asserting their support for the two activists from HateAid. The German Justice Ministry remarked, “Anyone who describes this as censorship is misrepresenting our constitutional system.”
As the US and European nations navigate these complex issues, the implications of such visa bans extend beyond mere travel restrictions. They underscore the ongoing debate over digital sovereignty, freedom of expression, and the future of international cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.
