The United States has barred five European nationals from entering the country, accusing them of leading efforts to pressure American technology companies into censoring or suppressing viewpoints protected under US law.
The move follows a visa policy introduced in May that restricts entry for foreign individuals deemed responsible for influencing or enforcing censorship in the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the targeted individuals as radical activists and leaders of organizations that, in his view, have attempted to shape online speech in ways that undermine American expression.
Rubio said these groups had driven foreign government backed censorship campaigns that affected US citizens and companies, creating what he called serious foreign policy concerns. He added that the administration would no longer tolerate what it sees as extraterritorial attempts to police American discourse.
The five individuals were publicly named by Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers. They include Imran Ahmed, head of the Center for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg of the German group HateAid; Clare Melford of the Global Disinformation Index; and former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton, who oversaw digital policy.
Rogers referred to Breton as the architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping regulation that requires major platforms to remove harmful or illegal content. She also cited his warning to Elon Musk about the potential spread of harmful material during a livestreamed interview with Donald Trump in 2024.
Breton responded by noting that all EU member states approved the Digital Services Act and argued that concerns about censorship were misplaced. France’s foreign minister also condemned the US decision, insisting the law has no extraterritorial impact and does not target the United States.
Although most Europeans can travel to the US without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program, they must still complete an online authorization process. A US official said it is possible that the five individuals have been flagged within that system.
The restrictions come amid a broader tightening of US visa policies this year, including new limits affecting travelers from several African and Middle Eastern countries and the Palestinian Authority. Some applicants may also be required to post a financial bond as part of the process.
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