European governments and institutions sharply criticized new U.S. visa bans on five European citizens, calling the move an unjustified escalation in an already strained transatlantic relationship over digital regulation and free speech.
The bans, imposed by Washington on Tuesday, targeted figures involved in combating online hate and disinformation, including former European commissioner Thierry Breton, and prompted coordinated condemnation from Brussels, Paris, Berlin, and London.
U.S. officials accused the individuals of promoting censorship and unfairly targeting American technology companies through European regulation, a charge European leaders firmly rejected.
Senior officials across the European Union framed the visa bans as an attack on European sovereignty and democratic lawmaking.
A European Commission spokesperson said the bloc “strongly condemns the U.S. decision” and warned it could “respond swiftly and decisively” to what it called unjustified measures.
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly supported Breton and said, “We will not give up, and we will protect Europe’s independence and the freedom of Europeans.”
Germany’s justice ministry described the bans on two German activists as unacceptable and said defining their work as censorship misrepresented Europe’s constitutional system.
British officials said they remained committed to free speech while supporting laws designed to limit the most harmful online content.
The dispute has intensified concerns in European capitals about the reliability of the United States as a partner, following recent U.S. statements questioning Europe’s political direction and global relevance.
At the center of the clash is the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a landmark law aimed at forcing major online platforms to address illegal content, hate speech, and disinformation.
Breton, one of the law’s principal architects, has been a frequent critic of large technology firms and was the most prominent individual affected by the bans.
The Trump administration argues the legislation places undue restrictions on freedom of expression and disproportionately impacts U.S.-based companies and citizens.
Tensions grew earlier this month after Brussels fined Elon Musk’s X platform €120 million for breaching EU content rules, a decision that further angered Washington.
European leaders insist the law applies only within Europe and was adopted through a democratic process, rejecting claims of extraterritorial censorship.
The row now underscores a broader struggle between the United States and Europe over digital power, regulation, and political values.