“Censorship Industry”: US State Dept Bans 5 European Figures Over Digital Laws

The US State Department has announced visa restrictions on five prominent European figures, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused them of leading a “global censorship-industrial complex” by pressuring American tech platforms to suppress certain viewpoints.

The move stems from their involvement in the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and anti-disinformation campaigns. Along with Breton, the list includes Imran Ahmed (CCDH), Clare Melford (GDI), and two executives from the German NGO HateAid. While the US claims these individuals “coerced” American companies, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have condemned the ban as an “act of intimidation” against European digital sovereignty.