'Radical activists and weaponized NGOs': US denies visas to EU ex-commissioner, four others over tech rules — who are they

The United States denied visas to five European figures for seeking to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.

The US state department on Tuesday said, "These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states—in each case targeting American speakers and American companies."

Who are they?

The measure targeted Thierry Breton, the former top tech regulator at the European Commission, who often clashed with tech tycoons such as Elon Musk over their obligations to follow EU rules. Breton was described by the State Department as the "mastermind" of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a major piece of legislation that imposes content moderation and data protection standards on major social media platforms, AFP news agency reported.

The DSA has become a bitter rallying point for conservatives in the US who see it as a weapon of censorship against right-wing thought in Europe and beyond—an accusation the EU furiously denies.

The visa ban also targeted Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that fights online hate, misinformation, and disinformation that also fell in the crosshairs of Musk after his takeover of Twitter, later renamed X.

Also subject to the ban were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, a German organisation that the State Department said functions as a trusted flagger for enforcing the DSA.

Clare Melford, who leads the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), rounded out the group. The US is also attacking the UK’s Online Safety Act, Britain’s equivalent of the DSA that seeks to impose content moderation requirements on major social media platforms.

European Union 'strongly condemns' US sanctions

The European Commission said that the European Union “strongly condemns” US sanctions imposed on five European figures.

“We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,” said a statement from the Commission.

“Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination.”

The statement also said: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world. “The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments,” the Commission said.

Macron condemns US sanctions

French President Emmanuel Macron denounced a US decision to deny visas to five European figures, saying the move amounted to "intimidation" and "coercion".

"France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures. These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty. The European Union’s digital regulations were adopted following a democratic and sovereign process by the European Parliament and the Council," Macron said in a post on X.



"They apply within Europe to ensure fair competition among platforms, without targeting any third country, and to ensure that what is illegal offline is also illegal online. The rules governing the European Union’s digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe. Together with the European Commission and our European partners, we will continue to defend our digital sovereignty and our regulatory autonomy," he added.