Former EU commissioner and activists barred from US in attack on European tech regulators

The US State Department has barred five Europeans from entering the country, accusing them of pressuring tech companies to censor American viewpoints. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated these individuals, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, led efforts to suppress American speech. The action is part of a broader Trump administration campaign against foreign influence over online speech, specifically targeting European regulations like the Digital Services Act (DSA). Under Secretary Sarah Rogers identified the five individuals as Imran Ahmed, Josephine Ballon, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, Clare Melford, and Thierry Breton. The visa bans are based on the Immigration and Nationality Act, restricting entry to the US for those targeted. The administration claims European policies stifle free speech and negatively impact US tech companies.

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