Wed, 24 Dec 2025

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 US denies visas to ex-EU commissioner and others over social media rules

Thierry Breton, the former top tech regulator at the European Commission, says a "witch hunt" is taking place.

* The US State Department will deny visas to five individuals, including Thierry Breton, former EU commissioner and architect of the Digital Services Act (DSA), for allegedly attempting to coerce American social media platforms into suppressing opposing viewpoints.
* Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses these activists of using NGOs as a tool for censorship, targeting American speakers and companies.
* Breton denies accusations, calling it a "witch hunt", and says a message on X: "To our American friends: Censorship isn't where you think it is."
* Clare Melford, leader of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), is also listed for allegedly using US taxpayer money to promote censorship.
* The GDI spokesperson calls the visa ban an "authoritarian attack on free speech" and an act of government censorship.
* Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) was also banned, with Undersecretary of State Sarah B Rogers accusing him of collaborating with the Biden Administration's efforts to silence US citizens.
* Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid were also banned, with the organization calling it an "act of repression" by a government disregarding the rule of law.
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