Overview
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced entry bans and sanctions on Thierry Breton and four activists, accusing them of coercing American platforms to censor U.S. viewpoints.
- The European Commission condemned the move, requested formal explanations from Washington, and warned it will respond rapidly if it deems the measures unjustified.
- French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the restrictions intimidation against Europe’s digital sovereignty, as Germany and Spain also criticized the action.
- The targeted individuals are Thierry Breton; Imran Ahmed of CCDH; Anna‑Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid; and Clare Melford of the Global Disinformation Index.
- The clash follows EU enforcement of the Digital Services Act, including a recent fine against X, with Breton rejecting the U.S. claims as McCarthyism and defending the DSA’s democratic mandate.