Macron and EU Condemn US Visa Bans as Row Over ‘Censorship’ Escalates

A diplomatic dispute has erupted between the United States and the European Union after Washington imposed visa bans on five prominent European individuals, accusing them of coercing American tech platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.

The U.S. government labelled the targeted Europeans as responsible for “extraterritorial censorship” and said the action was necessary to protect free speech and counter foreign influence on digital platforms.

Among those targeted is Thierry Breton, a former European Commissioner and key architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a major regulatory framework aimed at combating illegal and harmful online content while increasing transparency and accountability for tech companies.

The other banned individuals include executives and leaders of organisations involved in countering online hate, misinformation, and disinformation.

The United States Department of State, citing its new visa policy, said the bans target figures it believes have pressured U.S. social media companies to suppress American viewpoints through content moderation and regulation policies.

U.S. officials described these individuals as “radical activists” and accused them of advancing censorship campaigns that affect American speakers and companies.

The move triggered sharp criticism from European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the visa restrictions as acts of intimidation and coercion that threaten European digital sovereignty and interfere with the EU’s democratic process.

Macron emphasised that the EU’s digital rules were adopted through a sovereign legislative process and are designed to protect users and ensure fairness, not to target any third country.

European Union institutions and several member states, including France and Germany, also condemned the U.S. actions, calling them unacceptable and warning that the EU may respond decisively to defend its regulatory autonomy. French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot echoed Macron’s remarks, asserting that European digital regulations have no extraterritorial reach and do not affect U.S. law.

The sanctioned figures and their organisations rejected the U.S. accusations, describing the visa bans as attacks on freedom of expression and wrongful attempts to silence critics. Thierry Breton criticised the move on social media as akin to a “witch hunt,” drawing comparisons to historical political persecution.

The controversy underscores growing tensions between the United States and the European Union over digital governance, freedom of speech, and the regulation of powerful technology companies. The dispute further highlights wider geopolitical rifts over policy, technology standards, and international cooperation on digital issues.

Sources: The Guardian. Al Jazeera, EuroNews