The USA imposed sanctions against the former EU Commissioner for censoring American views.

According to ТСН: The U.S. State Department has imposed visa sanctions against a former high-ranking European Union official and leaders of organizations fighting disinformation. Washington accuses them of 'censoring American views.'

Sanctions and their consequences

According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, five individuals 'led organized efforts to pressure American digital platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress viewpoints they disagreed with.' The imposed sanctions ban entry into the U.S., and in some cases, even deportation is possible.

Among those sanctioned is Thierry Breton, a former EU commissioner who participated in developing the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). This law requires major tech platforms to combat illegal and harmful content.

Representatives of the German organization HateAid, which specializes in combating hate speech and disinformation online, were also sanctioned.

U.S. position and reaction

The State Department emphasized that the actions of those sanctioned 'could have serious negative consequences for U.S. foreign policy.' Rubio characterized them as 'agents of a global censorship complex' and stated that the list could be expanded if 'other foreign actors do not change course.'

Previously, the administration of President Donald Trump repeatedly accused European countries of excessive restrictions on freedom of speech. In February, Vice President J.D. Vance noted at the Munich Security Conference that European leaders were 'pressuring social media under the guise of combating disinformation.'

In response to the sanctions, the organizations affected called the actions of the U.S. an 'attack on freedom of speech' and expressed their views on the political motivation behind this decision.

These sanctions highlight the tension between the U.S. and Europe regarding freedom of speech and the fight against disinformation. In light of these events, it is important to monitor the further reaction from European governments and organizations, as it will influence the development of international relations in the coming months. The situation remains dynamic, and it is likely that it will impact the political climate in both the U.S. and the EU.