Its decision to ban the extradition of the former European Union Commissioner, on the grounds that he contributed to American social media with the European Regulation on Digital Services (DSA), has caused an uproar in European capitals.
The decision not to grant him a visa was announced by the US yesterday, and today, the French and German governments reacted strongly to the announcement of Breton’s visa restriction, as well as anti-disinformation activists.
Tough positions from the Commission and France for Breton
In a related update, a representative of the European Commission said that the Commission strongly condemns the US decision to impose travel restrictions on five Europeans, including former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton. As the spokesman added: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States throughout the democratic world.”
French President Emmanuel Macron made a corresponding post on X, who clarified that: “France condemns the ban on visas to Thierry Breton and four other people. These measures constitute intimidation and coercion aimed at eroding European digital sovereignty. Together with the European Commission and our European partners, we will continue to defend our digital sovereignty and regulatory autonomy.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barro argued in a related post on X that the DSA was approved through a democratic process and “has no extraterritorial scope and in no way affects the US.” More specifically, according to what he said: “France strongly condemns the visa restriction imposed by the USA on Thierry Breton, former minister and European Commissioner, and four other European persons. The people of Europe are free and sovereign and cannot allow third parties to impose the rules governing their digital space.”
France strongly condemns the visa restriction imposed by the United States on Thierry Breton, former minister and European Commissioner, and four other European divs.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) was democratically adopted in Europe to ensure that what is illegal offline is…
— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot)
Breton, a former French finance minister and EU Internal Market Commissioner from 2019 to 2024, was the most recognizable person targeted. In a related post, he also argued in X: “Has the McCarthy witch hunt returned? We remind you: 90% of the European Parliament — our democratically elected body — and the 27 Member States voted unanimously for the DSA. To our American friends: censorship is not where you think it is.”
Is a wind of McCarthyism blowing again? 🧹
As a reminder: 90% of the European Parliament — democratically elected — and the 27 Member States unanimously voted for the DSA 🇪🇺
To our American friends: “Censorship is not where you think it is. »
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton)
On Breton’s side stood his replacement in the Commission Stéphane Cezournet, who also commented on the US move in X, that: “No sanction will silence the sovereignty of the European peoples. Total solidarity with him and all Europeans affected.”
Who is affected and Germany’s reaction
Avoiding making a specific reference to Breton, Germany’s reaction to the bans was also strong. Visa bans were announced against Imran Ahmed, UK CEO of the US Center for Countering Digital Hate, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of the German non-profit HateAid, as well as Claire Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index.
Germany’s justice ministry said the two German activists have the government’s “support and solidarity” and that visa bans against them are unacceptable, adding that HateAid supports people affected by illegal online hate speech.
“Whoever calls this censorship is falsifying our constitutional system,” the German ministry said in a statement. “The rules by which we want to live in the digital space in Germany and Europe are not decided in Washington.”
The background of the conflict for Breton
The US move comes just weeks after the publication of the new US National Security Strategy, which warned that Europe is facing a “cultural extinction” if it does not change course, while underscoring the ever-increasing distance separating the US from European countries on key issues such as freedom of expression, defence, immigration, trade and more.
In this context, Washington argues that the EU is seeking “excessive” restrictions on freedom of expression to combat hate speech, misinformation and deception, and that the DSA unjustifiably targets US technology companies and US citizens. Indicative of these was the reaction of the American government to the recent imposition of a fine on Elon Musk’s X with a fine of 120 million euros for violating the DSA.
EU aims for a safer online world
The EU’s Digital Security Act (DSA) aims to make the online environment safer, in part by forcing tech giants to do more to tackle illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual abuse material.
Washington has said the EU seeks “unjustified” restrictions on freedom of expression in its efforts to combat hate speech, misinformation and disinformation, and that the Digital Security Act (DSA) unfairly targets US tech giants and US citizens.
The European Commission spokesman said the EU has the right to regulate economic activity and asked for more information from Washington about the measures.
“If necessary, we will respond quickly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,” they said.
THE French President Emmanuel Macron said: “These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty.”
At X, he said the DSA Act was passed through a democratic process and existed “to ensure fair competition between platforms, without targeting any third country, and to ensure that what is illegal offline is also illegal online.”
Breton, a former French finance minister and European commissioner for the internal market from 2019 to 2024, was the most high-profile individual targeted.
“Is the McCarthy Witch Hunt Back?” wrote to X.
“We remind you: 90% of the European Parliament – our democratically elected body – and all 27 Member States voted unanimously for the DSA law. To our American friends: Censorship is not where you think.”
Germany: Bans on activists ‘unacceptable’
Germany’s justice ministry said the two German activists had the “support and solidarity” of the government and the visa bans against them were unacceptable, adding that HateAid supported people affected by illegal hate speech in the digital world.
“Anyone who describes this as censorship is distorting our constitutional system,” he said in a statement. “The rules by which we want to live in the digital space in Germany and Europe are not decided in Washington.”
A spokesman for the Global Disinformation Index called the visa bans “an authoritarian attack on free speech and a blatant act of government censorship.”
“The Trump administration is, once again, using the full weight of the federal government to intimidate, censor and silence voices with which it disagrees,” they said. “Their actions today are immoral, illegal and un-American.”
Breton is not the first Frenchman to be punished by the Trump administration.
In August, Washington imposed sanctions on French judge Nicolas Jean Guillaume, who is a member of the International Criminal Court, over the court’s targeting of Israeli leaders and an earlier decision to investigate American officials.
Britain and Spain condemn the US decision
Britain and Spain have condemned the US decision to sanction five European citizens, politicians and activists for advocating regulation of digital platforms.
Britain is committed to upholding the right to free speech, a British government spokesman said today. “While each country has the right to set its own visa rules, we support laws and institutions that work to keep the internet free of harmful content,” the spokesperson said.
“Social media platforms should not be used to traffic child sexual abuse material, incite hatred and violence, or spread false information and videos for this purpose,” he added.
Two of the leading organizations targeted by Washington are British citizens.
Madrid, for its part, noted that “it is fundamental for democracy in Europe” to protect “a secure digital space.” At the same time, she expressed her solidarity with former Commissioner Thierry Breton and the heads of non-governmental organizations fighting against disinformation and hate speech.
Europeans generally do not need a visa to visit the US, but they must issue an Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) to travel for tourism or business.
The European Union will continue to protect freedom of expression, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, after the US imposed a travel ban on five European citizens, including former Commissioner Thierry Breton.
“Freedom of speech is the foundation of strong European democracy. We are proud of her. We will protect her” underlined von der Leyen in her post on the X platform.
The president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, for his part, said that the sanctions against the five Europeans are something “unacceptable between allies, partners and friends”. “The EU is unyielding in defending freedom of expression, fair digital rules and its sovereignty to enforce regulatory rules,” he noted in his own post on the same platform.
