Archive · 25 Dec 2025
US Denies Visas to 5 Europeans
The US government has decided not to let five Europeans visit the country.
They say these people tried to make American social media companies remove certain views.
One of them, Thierry Breton, is upset and says it's like a big unfair hunt, similar to a time in the past when people were wrongly accused.
The EU says they have rules to stop bad information online, and many people agreed to these rules.
The US is also upset about some new internet safety laws in the UK and has stopped working with them on tech stuff.
The US denied visas to 5 Europeans, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, for allegedly pressuring US tech companies to censor American viewpoints.
The decision was made under a new visa restriction policy aimed at preventing the censorship of protected speech.
Thierry Breton called the visa denial a 'witch hunt' and compared it to the McCarthy era, while the EU condemned the decision.
The US criticized the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) for leading to the censorship of protected speech, while the EU defended the DSA as a unanimously voted measure.
The US also froze a tech cooperation agreement with the UK over its Online Safety Act, citing conflicts with British tech regulations.
- Who
- Thierry Breton, Imran Ahmed, Clare Melford, Josephine Ballon, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg
- What
- US denied visas to 5 Europeans for alleged efforts to censor American viewpoints
- When
- December 23, 2025
- Where
- United States and European Union
- Why
- US accuses them of attempting to coerce American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints
US Government
European Officials
Visa Denial
US Government
The US barred 5 Europeans for allegedly pressuring US tech companies to censor American viewpoints, using a new visa restriction policy.
European Officials
Thierry Breton, the main target, called it a 'witch hunt' and compared it to the McCarthy era, while the EU condemned the decision.
Digital Services Act
US Government
The US criticized the EU's Digital Services Act for leading to the censorship of protected speech.
European Officials
The EU defended the DSA, with Breton highlighting that it was unanimously voted for by the European Parliament and all 27 Member States.
- Individuals Denied Visas
- Thierry Breton, Imran Ahmed, Clare Melford, Josephine Ballon, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg
- US Accusation
- Attempting to coerce American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints
- EU Action
- Implemented the Digital Services Act (DSA) to combat misinformation and disinformation
- US Response
- Froze tech cooperation agreement with the UK over Online Safety Act
- US Secretary of State
- Marco Rubio
- French Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
- Jean-Noel Barrot
Sources
Ex-EU commissioner Breton hits out at US over proposed visa denial: 'Is McCarthy’s witch hunt back?'
US Bars Five Europeans, It Says Pressured Tech Firms To Censor American Viewpoints Online
US bars 5 Europeans over alleged efforts to 'censor American view points'
US imposes visa bans on ex-EU commissioner, activists over alleged censorship; France, EU condemn move
‘Censorship isn't where you think it is’: US denies visa to former EU commissioner, calls him ‘radical activist and...’
French President Macron condemns US visa ban on EU officials over censorship of online speech
US State Department denies visas to ex-top EU official, UK campaigners, impose sanctions for ‘censorship’
US Denies Visas To Ex-European Union Commissioner, 4 Others Over Tech Rules
