• The US denies visas to five Europeans, including ex-EU commissioner Thierry Breton.
• Authorities accuse them of pressuring tech firms to censor American viewpoints.
• This action has been characterized as an effort to combat foreign censorship.
• French President Macron and other European leaders condemned the visa restrictions.
• The EU plans to defend its regulatory autonomy in response to the US actions.

The US State Department announced that it would deny visas to five European figures, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, for their alleged involvement in efforts to coerce American social media platforms to censor viewpoints they oppose. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized these individuals as part of a "radical" and "weaponized" movement against American speech, stating that the Trump administration will not tolerate extraterritorial actions that undermine U.S. free speech protections, according to BBC and SCMP.

Breton is described by US officials as the "mastermind" behind the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a significant regulation that imposes strict content moderation standards on major social media companies. This act has drawn criticism, particularly from conservative circles in the US, who claim it acts as a tool for censoring right-wing opinions, an assertion that the EU vehemently denies. The DSA was created to ensure user safety online, compelling platforms to justify content moderation decisions and maintain transparency, as reported by Al Jazeera and NPR.

The travel restrictions also affect Imran Ahmed from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, as well as Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from the German organization HateAid, both of whom have been active in enforcing the DSA. Clare Melford, who leads the Global Disinformation Index, is included in this list of prohibited entry as well. Responses to the bans have sparked outrage, with critics labeling them as a form of government censorship aiming to silence free speech, according to Reuters and India Times.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the visa measures, asserting they represent a form of "intimidation and coercion" against European sovereignty in digital governance. Macron emphasized that the DSA was democratically established and does not target any nation outside of Europe, a sentiment echoed by other EU leaders who have expressed a commitment to defending the region's regulatory autonomy against perceived unjust actions by the US, as stated by AA and Le Monde.

Germany's foreign minister and the EU Commission have similarly voiced their opposition to the visa sanctions, underscoring the necessity of maintaining a fair and safe digital environment without external interference. The EU has indicated it will seek clarifications from US authorities and may respond with appropriate measures to defend its digital regulations, according to The Local and The Local.