The United States government announced sanctions against five European citizens, banning their entry into the country. The measure affects people linked to defending stricter rules for the technology sector and combating misinformation on the internet
Among those sanctioned is Thierry Breton, a former French commissioner who played a central role in formulating the European Union’s digital regulation standards. The other four people affected are representatives of non-governmental organizations in the United Kingdom and Germany that work to combat online disinformation.
Washington claims that the European Union’s Digital Services Law, which imposed content moderation obligations on large digital platforms, represents a form of censorship. The argument is rejected by European authorities.
The decision provoked an immediate reaction from the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, who accused the American government of practicing “coercion and intimidation”. The vice-president of the European Commission stated that the sanctions constitute an attempt to interfere in the sovereignty of the bloc’s countries.
