The European Union has condemned US sanctions against five Europeans. The ban on entry to the US comes after accusations of pressure on technology companies due to social networks.
The European Union on Wednesday strongly condemned the sanctions the United States imposed on five Europeans on Tuesday for their alleged pressure on technology firms to censor American views on the Internet. Sanctioned persons have been banned from entering the US by the US State Department. TASR informs about it according to the AFP agency.
- The European Union has condemned the US sanctions imposed on five Europeans.
- Sanctions include banning disabled persons from entering the US.
- The US charges relate to the alleged censorship of US views.
- The European Commission asked the American authorities to explain the measure.
- The EU emphasizes the importance of fundamental rights and democratic values in regulation.
The US State Department announced on Tuesday that it will deny visas to former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and four others who it says are trying to “force” US social media to censor views they disagree with.
Reaction of the European Commission
“We have asked the US authorities for an explanation… If necessary, we will react quickly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unauthorized measures,” the European Commission (EC) said in an official statement.
“Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair and level playing field for all companies,” she added.
Fundamental rights and values
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared fundamental value with the United States and the entire democratic world. The EU is an open market, based on rules, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in accordance with our democratic values and international obligations,” the EC concluded.
