European leaders express outrage over US visa bans, accusing the US of 'coercion and intimidation' in a growing row over 'censorship'. The dispute centers on the Digital Services Act (DSA), a European regulation aimed at curbing hate speech and illegal content online. The US has imposed visa bans on five key figures involved in the DSA's implementation, including Thierry Breton, a former EU commissioner and architect of the DSA. The banned individuals are accused of leading organized efforts to pressure American tech platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have strongly condemned the visa bans. Macron described the measures as 'intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty'. He emphasized that the DSA was democratically adopted by the European Parliament and Council, and is designed to ensure fair competition and legal compliance within Europe, without targeting third countries. The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, echoed this sentiment, stating that European citizens are free and sovereign, and should not have their digital rules imposed by others.
Breton, a former French finance minister and EU commissioner, questioned the nature of the visa bans, asking if they were reminiscent of McCarthy's witch-hunt. He highlighted the overwhelming support for the DSA within the European Parliament and among member states. The EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, also defended freedom of speech, stating that it is the foundation of European democracy and that the EU will protect it.
The US, however, views the DSA as a form of censorship and argues that the visa bans are justified. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration will no longer tolerate 'egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship'. The dispute has sparked a broader cultural and political conflict between the US and Europe, with artificial intelligence and digital technologies emerging as key battlegrounds.
The German government, Spanish foreign ministry, and EU officials have all expressed solidarity with the banned individuals and criticized the US measures. German Justice Minister and German Journalists' Association chair have also spoken out against the visa bans, emphasizing the democratic nature of the DSA and the importance of freedom of speech. The row highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and Europe, with some European officials drawing parallels to historical conflicts between the US and its allies.
