The Trump administration barred Thierry Breton, formerly the EU commissioner for Internal Market and Services, who helped craft the Digital Services Act, plus four individuals working on anti-disinformation campaigns, charging that they coerced American tech firms into silencing content, according to CNBC.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated publicly that "The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose." He asserted that "these radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states—in each case targeting American speakers and American companies."
Their admission into America therefore creates "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences," he contended, declaring that "Based on these determinations, the Department has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on agents of the global censorship-industrial complex who, as a result, will be generally barred from entering the United States.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the European Commission "strongly" condemned Washington's decision to ban five people from entering the country – including former commissioner Breton – over allegations they suppressed free expression.
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world," the European Commission's statment read. "The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments. Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination."
The Commission warned it is prepared to take countermeasures: "We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures."
For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.
Today, @StateDept will take steps to…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) December 23, 2025
The Digital Services Act mandates that major technology corporations, including Google and Meta, intensify policing of illegal content or confront substantial fines.
Breton, whose commissioner tenure spanned 2019 to 2024, posted on X: "Is McCarthy's witch hunt back? As a reminder: 90% of the European Parliament — our democratically elected body — and all 27 Member States unanimously voted the DSA." He also wrote: "To our American friends: "Censorship isn't where you think it is."
Josephine Ballon, who co-directs the non-profit organization HateAid and sits on Germany's Advisory Council of the Digital Services, was among anti-disinformation workers receiving sanctions. Her co-director Anna-Lena von Hodenberg also faced restrictions. The organization called the US move an "act of repression," Barrons reported.
