Europe condemns US visa bans over dispute on digital regulation and free speech
European leaders have criticised US visa bans imposed on five Europeans involved in countering online hate and disinformation, warning that the move escalates tensions over the EU’s digital rules and raises broader questions about transatlantic relations.
The European Union, France, and Germany have strongly criticised a decision by the United States to impose visa bans on five European citizens active in efforts to counter online hate speech and disinformation. The measures, announced by the Trump administration on 24 December 2025, were justified by Washington as a response to what it described as censorship and unfair regulatory pressure on US technology companies.
Those targeted include Thierry Breton, former European Commissioner for the Internal Market and one of the architects of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as campaigners from Germany and the United Kingdom working on disinformation and online harms. US officials accused the individuals of contributing to policies that restrict freedom of expression or disproportionately affect US-based technology platforms.
European officials rejected these claims, arguing that the EU’s digital rules are grounded in democratic processes and fundamental rights. A European Commission spokesperson said the EU ‘strongly condemns’ the visa bans and stressed that freedom of expression is a core value shared by Europe and the United States. France and Germany also defended Europe’s right to regulate how digital platforms operate within their jurisdictions, with German officials stating that Europe’s digital rules are ‘not decided in Washington.’
The dispute is closely linked to the DSA, which requires large online platforms to address illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual abuse material. The law has drawn criticism from the Trump administration, which argues that it places undue restrictions on speech and unfairly targets US companies. Tensions intensified earlier this month after the EU fined X, owned by Elon Musk, for breaching content moderation obligations under the DSA.
The visa bans come amid wider strains in transatlantic relations, following recent US statements questioning Europe’s political direction and regulatory approach. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, framed the issue as one of sovereignty and independence.
