European leaders like Emmanuel Macron charge the US with bullying and threats. This follows a US visa ban on five key Europeans pushing rules on American tech firms.
The bans hit Tuesday. They target Thierry Breton, ex-EU commissioner and main builder of the Digital Services Act. Four others fight disinformation: two from Germany, two from the UK.
Targets include Imran Ahmed, UK head of the US-based Centre for Countering Digital Hate. Also Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from German group HateAid. And Clare Melford, co-founder of Global Disinformation Index.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained on X. He said Europe ideologues long forced US platforms to block views they hate. The Trump team ends tolerance for this overreach censorship.
Germany, Spain, the UK, and EU voices blast the bans alongside France. Brussels warns of quick, firm reply to these unfair steps.
Washington views the DSA as censorship. Europe calls it vital to curb hate speech. The fight risks fueling a larger US-Europe split under Trump. AI and digital tools spark clashes as they grow key to power.
Macron slammed the bans with anger.
These acts bully and pressure to weaken Europe’s digital control, he posted on X.
EU digital rules came from votes by Parliament and Council. They work inside Europe for fair platform fights. They make sure crimes online match offline ones. No third country is hit. Outsiders do not set EU digital rules.
Macron later said he talked with French citizen Breton. He thanked him for his efforts. We keep going. We guard Europe’s freedom and independence.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot added: Europe acts free and sovereign. No one else dictates our digital rules.
Breton once led France’s finance ministry. He served as EU internal market chief until 2024. Is McCarthy’s purge back? he asked.
Recall: 90% of Parliament, our elected group, backed DSA. All 27 nations agreed. American friends, censorship hides elsewhere.
EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen stated: Free speech builds our lively democracy. We cherish it. We defend it. A spokesperson said: We hit back fast if needed to guard our rule-making power from unfair acts.
