Washington’s decision to restrict visas for five people is related to the fight against disinformation and the defense of the European digital space and triggered a broad reaction in Europe, especially from the Spanish government, whose concerns focused on the possible impact of these measures on international cooperation. According to Europa Press, the executive branch described these restrictions against former EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and four heads of civil organizations as an incompatible approach between partners and allies.
Europa Press reported that the solidarity expressed by the Spanish executive was not limited to Thierry Breton, identified directly by the US State Department, but also to the rest of those affected: Imran Ahmed, President of the Center for the Fight against Digital Hate; Clare Melford of the Global Misinformation Index; and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg together with Josephine Ballon, both members of the HateAid organization. The restrictions were imposed following allegations by the U.S. government that identified these individuals as proponents of actions that it said encouraged repressive measures to censor Americans by foreign governments.
The Spanish government’s resolution, published in an official statement, argued that measures of this kind violate the principles of international cooperation, especially between traditional allies such as the European Union and the United States. “They represent unacceptable measures between partners and allies,” said the executive statement quoted by Europa Press. In its argument, the government reiterated the importance of maintaining “a safe digital space free from illegal content and disinformation,” describing this as an essential value for the functioning of democracy in Europe and a shared responsibility of intercontinental partners.
Europa Press explained that the controversy grew following a statement by US Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, who confirmed that Thierry Breton was among the group of sanctioned individuals. Rogers explained that the former commissioner played a central role in the formulation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a European regulation to combat illegal content and protect internet users. According to Rogers, the sanction is justified by the use of the DSA as a tool to coerce American platforms, in particular a letter that Breton sent to Elon Musk, the owner of one of these platforms, in which he recalled the legal proceedings that the company is facing for alleged disinformation and illegal content. The State Department believed Breton’s letter posed a threat, arguing that those it identified as agents of the “global censorship industrial complex” intended, in its assessment, to censor American opinions that disagreed with the content allowed on such platforms.
According to Europa Press, the US government has decided to impose a complete ban on the five sanctions entering the country, in addition to warning that they could face deportation proceedings if they were already in US territory. The Department of Homeland Security was authorized to carry out these measures in accordance with diplomatic instructions from Washington.
Former Commissioner Thierry Breton responded to the measures via his social network account
The other affected individuals, all affiliated with organizations that monitor and report hate speech, discriminatory speech and digital disinformation campaigns, were described by the State Department as representing “politicized NGOs and radical activists.” According to Europa Press, the State Department itself justified its inclusion on the sanctions list by saying that its activities had potentially serious consequences for US foreign policy and encouraged foreign governments to take initiatives that it considered repressive to US citizens.
The DSA, which is at the center of the conflict, was adopted last year with the aim of establishing new obligations for major technology platforms in controlling illegal content, mitigating systemic risks and protecting users on European territory. This regulation imposes economic sanctions on companies that do not comply with legal requirements to deal with disinformation and hate speech, which has led to heated debates with international companies and governments of third countries, in particular the United States.
The government statement cited by Europa Press notes that the DSA protects the European digital environment “without discrimination” and emphasizes that defending digital democracy requires the commitment of all international actors. This positioning comes against the backdrop of different accusations from European and American officials regarding freedom of expression, censorship and the legality of regulatory requirements for digital platforms operating across borders.
Europa Press reported that the announcement of US sanctions came shortly after a public letter from Thierry Breton to Elon Musk, in which the former commissioner recalled that the platform had to respond to legal proceedings brought over alleged violations of the DSA. This episode was interpreted by the US government as part of a pressure strategy that would lead to a restriction on the content permitted to US users of the platform.
The debate on defining the limits of freedom of expression and combating disinformation in the global digital space remains on the agenda of the European Union and the United States. The recent tensions surrounding the DSA, reported by Europa Press, show how difficult it is to find consensus on regulating the digital environment and defending democracy in a context of different interests and conflicting accusations.
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