On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the European Union and senior officials from France, Germany and the UK hit back at a U.S. decision to impose visa bans on five European voices shaping digital regulation.
The U.S. State Department accused these figures of endorsing censorship on U.S. social platforms. Those targeted include:
- Thierry Breton, former European Commissioner and a key architect of the Digital Services Act (DSA)
- Imran Ahmed, British CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate
- Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from German non-profit HateAid
- Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index
Sarah Rogers, U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, labeled Breton 'a mastermind' behind the DSA, which entered into force on November 16, 2022. In response, Brussels warned it is ready to act 'swiftly and decisively' to defend its regulatory autonomy and democratic values.
'Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States,' said a European Commission spokesperson. The EU's digital rules aim to ensure a safe, fair and level playing field for all companies, with the bloc retaining full sovereignty over its economic and online landscapes.
Stephane Sejourne, Executive Vice President and European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, praised Breton as a leading force behind the DSA. On X, he asserted, 'No sanction will silence the sovereignty of the European peoples.'
Across capitals, the pushback was firm:
- French President Emmanuel Macron called the bans 'intimidation and coercion,' stressing that EU digital rulemaking 'cannot be determined outside Europe.'
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that the DSA 'has no extraterritorial reach and does not affect the United States.'
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul deemed the entry bans 'not acceptable,' reminding that the DSA 'was democratically adopted by the EU, for the EU.'
- The UK government defended free speech, expressing support for rules and institutions that keep the internet 'free from the most harmful content.'
British Labour MP Chi Onwurah also decried the move, warning that banning experts 'undermines free speech' and won't stem the spread of digital hate.
Breton himself questioned if Washington's action marked a return to 'McCarthy's witch hunt,' highlighting that 90% of the European Parliament and all 27 member states voted for the DSA.
Tensions are rising as the EU grows enforcement of its landmark law: on December 5, 2025, Brussels fined U.S. platform X 120 million euros for deceptive design practices, opaque ad data and limited researcher access. With both sides dug in, the clash over digital rulemaking could reshape the future of the internet.
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EU slams U.S. travel bans on Europeans over tech regulations
cgtn.com
