EU Condemns US Visa Bans on Digital Activists Amid Rising Tensions

The European Union has strongly criticized recent US visa bans targeting several European digital activists. Issued this week in Washington, the bans affect five individuals involved in online safety and hate‑speech regulation. EU leaders described the move as unjustified and said it damages trust between allies. The US State Department claimed the group pressured American tech companies to silence US voices, a charge rejected by EU officials. According to Reuters, the EU has requested a detailed explanation from Washington and warned it could respond firmly.

EU officials argue that the visa bans conflict with cooperative efforts on digital policy. The targeted activists, they say, were enforcing EU law rather than interfering in US affairs. France and Germany labeled the bans as an attempt to pressure Europe over its digital regulations. Among those affected is former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, who helped design the Digital Services Act, legislation that imposes strict rules on major tech companies to protect users from hate speech and misinformation. EU leaders insist the law is applied fairly and transparently.

Germany’s foreign minister said the bans are unacceptable and emphasized that European digital rules are set by democratically elected institutions. France described the US action as intimidation aimed at weakening EU digital sovereignty. The tensions follow EU actions against X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, for failing to meet European content standards. The timing has raised concerns in Brussels about potential political motives behind Washington’s decision.

Experts warn that the bans could slow negotiations on technology, AI, cybersecurity, and platform accountability. EU officials stressed that freedom of expression is a shared value and said they expect the US to respect Europe’s regulatory approach to online safety. The dispute highlights growing friction between Washington and Brussels over the governance of the digital space, with EU leaders indicating they will defend their right to regulate technology within their borders.