• The U.S. denies visas to former EU commissioner Thierry Breton and four others.
• The ban is a response to Breton's role in the EU's Digital Services Act.
• France condemns the U.S. visa restrictions as a violation of international norms.

The U.S. State Department has imposed a visa ban on five individuals, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, citing their roles in what it describes as efforts to "coerce" American social media platforms into combating viewpoints they disagree with. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that these individuals represent "radical activists" and "weaponized NGOs," targeting American speakers and companies, especially in light of their connection to the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates content moderation on social media firms. Breton, often at odds with tech leaders like Elon Musk regarding EU regulations, was labeled as the "'mastermind' of the DSA," prompting significant backlash from conservatives in the U.S. who view it as an infringement on free speech, according to BBC, Reuters, and The Local.

The visa ban, condemned by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, emphasizes Europe's stance on maintaining sovereignty over its digital regulatory framework. Barrot's comments imply that allowing U.S. standards to dictate European regulations would undermine local governance. He asserted that the DSA was "democratically adopted in Europe," countering claims of extraterritorial reach, as stated in multiple reports BBC, Reuters, and The Local.

The implications of this diplomatic clash extend further as Breton rebuts the U.S. actions, likening them to a "witch hunt" and stating, "Censorship isn't where you think it is." This response echoes concerns about U.S. overreach into European regulatory frameworks and the increasing tensions as the U.S. government actively criticizes the DSA. The U.S. has indicated that businesses in Europe could also face scrutiny as the tensions escalate, highlighting the fractious nature of U.S.-EU relations, according to BBC, Reuters, and The Local.