U.S. bars entry to five prominent Europeans, alleging they pressured tech companies to censor American online speech

• Five European individuals have been barred from entering the United States by the Trump administration, which alleges they have pressured American tech firms to censor online speech. The group, which includes former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, is associated with Europe’s Digital Services Act and initiatives to combat disinformation. The action has provoked a diplomatic reaction, with European leaders denouncing the sanctions as acts of intimidation.

The Trump administration has prohibited five Europeans from entering the United States, alleging they have coerced American technology companies into censoring or suppressing American online speech. The individuals–Thierry Breton, Imran Ahmed, Josephine Ballon, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, and Clare Melford—are all prominent leaders in European initiatives concerning social media platforms.

The entry ban was imposed under a policy targeting foreign nationals considered responsible for suppressing speech protected by U.S. law.

“For an extended period, European ideologues have orchestrated efforts to force American platforms to penalize American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”

“We are prepared to add to this list if others do not change their approach,” he further stated.

The E.U.’s Digital Services Act, which was implemented throughout the European Union in 2023, is seen as a major source of friction. In social media posts, Sarah Rogers, the under secretary of state for public diplomacy, labeled former European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton the “mastermind” behind the Digital Services Act.

The legislation mandates that major online platforms, such as Meta’s Facebook and Elon Musk’s X, assume more accountability for content on their services, requiring the removal of illegal material like hate speech and child sexual abuse imagery. It also forbids platforms from using sensitive personal data—including race, religion, gender, or age—for targeted advertising and prohibits ad targeting of children. Furthermore, it demands greater transparency from platforms regarding their content moderation choices and algorithmic recommendations.

Detractors, especially within the U.S. technology sector, have long argued that the act grants governments excessive authority to define illegal speech and compels American companies to adhere to European norms.

Rogers also alleged that Breton used the act to “threaten” Musk prior to an interview with President Trump. In reaction to the visa ban, Breton posted a message on X, saying: “To our American friends: Censorship isn’t where you think it is.”

Also subject to the ban were Von Hodenberg and Ballon from HateAid, a German organization that the State Department stated assisted in enforcing the DSA. In a joint statement, they said: “We are not surprised. It is an act of repression by a government that is increasingly ignoring the rule of law and attempting to silence its critics by any means. This signifies a new escalation: The US government is openly challenging European sovereignty.”

“We will not be intimidated by a government that employs accusations of censorship to silence those who advocate for human rights and freedom of expression,” they added.

Similarly, bans were issued against Melford, who heads the U.K.-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), and Ahmed, the CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit dedicated to opposing online hate and misinformation.

A GDI Spokesperson told : “The visa sanctions announced today are an authoritarian assault on free speech and a shocking act of government censorship … GDI exists to help the public comprehend and assess the information they encounter online. We combat speech with more speech. If only the federal government had the courage to do the same.”

The decision has also caused a diplomatic outcry throughout Europe. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on X that the sanctions were “not acceptable.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot denounced the visa restrictions and supported the DSA, saying it guarantees that “what is illegal offline is also illegal online.”

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, posted on X that “France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures.” He described the bans as “intimidation and coercion intended to weaken European digital sovereignty.”

The European Commission issued a statement saying it had asked for “clarifications” from the U.S. and cautioned: “If necessary, we will act quickly and firmly to protect our regulatory autonomy from unjustified measures.”

Representatives for Breton and Ahmed did not immediately reply to ’s request for comment.