The United States has barred five individuals, including former European Union commissioner Thierry Breton, from entering the country, accusing them of pressuring American social media platforms to censor content.
The US State Department said the move targets those attempting to suppress viewpoints they oppose. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the group as part of a “global censorship-industrial complex” aimed at influencing US speakers and companies. Breton, recognized as the architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates content moderation, was singled out for his role in shaping EU digital regulations.
Other affected individuals include Clare Melford, head of the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), and German digital rights leaders Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon.
The ban has been criticized by those affected as an “authoritarian attack on free speech,” while US officials defended it as part of enforcing the “America First” policy and protecting domestic free expression.
