The US State Department stated it would refuse entry permits to a group of five people, including a former EU commissioner, for reportedly seeking to "force" American online companies into suppressing opinions they disagree with.
"These radical activists and aggressive non-profits have promoted censorship crackdowns by other governments - in each case targeting US voices and US firms," said US diplomat Marco Rubio.
The former European tech regulator remarked that a "witch hunt" was taking place.
Breton was described as the "key designer" of the European Union's online content law, which enforces speech regulations on social media firms.
A Divisive Regulation
However, the act has frustrated certain right-leaning Americans who view it as an attempt to silence conservative viewpoints. EU authorities denies this.
The official has been in conflict with Elon Musk, owner of platform X, over obligations to follow European regulations.
EU regulators imposed a penalty on X 120 million euros over its blue tick badges – the first fine under the DSA. Regulators stated the platform's system was "misleading" because the firm was not "properly authenticating users".
As a countermove, the platform prevented the European body from running advertisements on its platform.
Responses and Additional Restrictions
Reacting to the visa ban, Breton posted on X: "Addressing the US: Speech suppression does not lie where you think it is."
Another listed individual, who heads the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also listed.
US Undersecretary of State the official alleged the GDI of using American public funds "to encourage censorship and targeting of American speech and media".
A representative for the group characterized the entry bans as "a repressive move on free speech and a blatant example of government censorship".
"Their actions today are unethical, unlawful, and un-American," they stated.
Imran Ahmed of the an online hate watchdog, a non-governmental organization that combats online hate and false information, was similarly issued a ban.
Rogers called Mr Ahmed a "key collaborator with efforts to weaponize the government against American people".
Additionally facing restrictions were two executives of a German organization, which the US officials said helped enforce the DSA.
In a statement, the two leaders described it as an "act of repression by a government that is increasingly disregarding the legal principles".
"We refuse to be silenced by a government that uses accusations of censorship to silence those who defend fundamental freedoms," they added.
Official Rationale
The Secretary of State stated that action was initiated to impose visa restrictions on "representatives of the international suppression network" who would be "typically prohibited from entering the United States".
"The administration has been clear that his national sovereignty diplomatic stance opposes infringements of US autonomy. Extraterritorial overreach by overseas regulators targeting US expression is unacceptable," he added.
