The European Union and key member states have sharply criticized the United States for imposing travel bans on five European individuals, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, escalating tensions over tech regulation enforcement. The U.S. State Department accused those targeted of involvement in content moderation policies affecting American social media platforms, a claim EU officials called "unfounded" and "an affront to digital sovereignty."
Stephane Sejourne, European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, defended Breton as a key architect of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which entered into force in 2022. "No sanction will silence the sovereignty of the European peoples," Sejourne declared on social media, reflecting widespread European defiance.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed the EU's stance, emphasizing that the DSA—designed to combat hate speech and disinformation—was democratically adopted and applies only within the EU. Macron warned against "intimidation" aimed at undermining Europe's regulatory autonomy, while Wadephul called the U.S. measures "not acceptable."
The dispute intensified this year as Brussels enforced the DSA more rigorously, including a €120 million fine against a U.S. social media platform in December 2025 for non-compliance. Critics in Washington argue the regulations burden American tech firms, but EU leaders insist the rules ensure a "safe, fair, and level playing field" online.
British officials and lawmakers also weighed in, with Labour MP Chi Onwurah accusing the U.S. of undermining free speech through "McCarthy-era tactics." The UK government, while acknowledging national visa rights, reaffirmed support for laws addressing harmful online content.
As the EU seeks clarifications from U.S. authorities, analysts warn the clash could strain transatlantic cooperation on digital governance, with implications for global tech markets and cross-border data policies.
