The U.S. State Department took a significant step on Tuesday, announcing it is barring five European citizens from entering the United States. The individuals are accused of spearheading efforts to coerce American technology companies into censoring or suppressing viewpoints from within the U.S.
Who Are the Banned Europeans and What Are the Allegations?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the five as "radical" activists and leaders of "weaponized" non-governmental organizations. The action falls under a new visa policy unveiled in May 2024, designed to restrict entry for foreigners deemed responsible for censorship of protected speech in the United States.
"For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose," Rubio stated in a post on the social media platform X. "The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship."
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers identified the five individuals in a series of social media posts. They are:
- Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
- Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of the German organization HateAid.
- Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index.
- Thierry Breton, the former European Union Commissioner for digital affairs.
Rubio's statement asserted that these individuals advanced foreign government censorship campaigns targeting Americans and U.S. companies, creating "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the nation.
The Digital Services Act and a Clash with Elon Musk
In her posts, Rogers singled out former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton as the "mastermind" behind the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). This legislation, passed in 2022, imposes strict requirements on online platforms to protect users, including measures to flag illegal or harmful content like hate speech.
Rogers referenced a specific incident in August 2024, when Breton warned tech billionaire Elon Musk about the potential "amplification of harmful content" for broadcasting a livestream interview with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump on his platform.
Breton responded to the visa ban on Tuesday, noting on X that all 27 EU member states voted for the DSA. "To our American friends: 'Censorship isn’t where you think it is,'" he wrote.
International Reactions and Policy Context
The move has drawn immediate criticism from European officials. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the visa restrictions, stating on X that the DSA was adopted to ensure "what is illegal offline is also illegal online." He emphasized that the law "has absolutely no extraterritorial reach and in no way concerns the United States."
This action represents a distinct approach by the Trump administration to counter perceived foreign influence over online speech, utilizing immigration law instead of platform regulations or financial sanctions. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, explained that while most Europeans travel under the Visa Waiver Program, the five individuals have likely been flagged in the Department of Homeland Security's electronic travel authorization system, effectively barring their entry.
The visa restrictions announced on December 19, 2025, are part of a broader set of immigration policies introduced this year, which have also included bans targeting visitors from certain African and Middle Eastern countries and the Palestinian Authority.
