US Sanctions Target Thierry Breton and European NGOs Over Tech Regulation Policies

On December 23, the Trump administration imposed visa bans and travel restrictions on five European individuals, including French national and former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, in a move targeting advocates of stringent technology regulations. According to official statements, these sanctions are a response to efforts by these figures to pressure American tech platforms into censoring content, with the US viewing these European regulatory actions, particularly the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), as threats to free speech.

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, criticized these European initiatives as "blatant acts of extraterritorial censorship," asserting that the US will no longer tolerate foreign interference aimed at influencing American public discourse. Alongside Breton, the sanctions affect prominent European figures involved in digital content regulation, including Imran Ahmed (Center for Countering Hate), Clare Melford (Global Disinformation Index), and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from the German NGO HateAid.

The US government highlighted that none of the sanctioned individuals currently hold official positions in the EU or UK despite their influence in European or international online content regulation. The EU's DSA is recognized globally for establishing one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks governing digital content, prompting backlash in the US over concerns of censorship and sovereignty.

This diplomatic development reflects increasing tensions between US and European approaches to technology regulation and digital rights, with the sanctions underscoring the politically sensitive nature of content moderation and cross-border governance in the digital era. While broader geopolitical dynamics continue to challenge transatlantic relations, as European leaders grapple with internal divisions over other issues such as Ukraine support and trade agreements, this tech regulation conflict represents a critical flashpoint.