Brussels – Following the U.S. State Department’s decision to impose a travel ban on former EU Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, he questioned in a post on X whether this indicated “the return of McCarthy’s witch hunt,” referencing the 1950s actions by Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy aimed at combating communism, which were later deemed unjust and overly accusatory.
The State Department cited the ban as a measure against Breton and four other Europeans due to their “efforts to pressure American technology firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints.”
Breton, regarded as the architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes stringent regulations on major tech companies concerning privacy, disinformation, data collection, and online hate speech, is viewed in the U.S. as having attempted to limit opinions and restrict the American tech sector.
“For reference, 90 percent of the European Parliament – our democratically elected institution – and all 27 member states unanimously endorsed the Digital Services Act. To our American friends: Censorship is not where you believe it is,” Breton remarked in his X post.
The decision was also met with strong condemnation from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who criticized the travel ban on Breton and the other Europeans.
“The Digital Services Act was democratically enacted in Europe to ensure that what is illegal offline is also illegal online. It has no extraterritorial reach and does not affect the U.S.,” Barrot asserted on X.
He emphasized that Europeans are free and sovereign, rejecting the imposition of external regulations on their digital landscape.
The European Commission also “strongly condemned” the ban and has sought “clarification” from the U.S. regarding the matter.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the U.S. and the democratic world. The EU operates an open, rules-based internal market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in alignment with its democratic values and international obligations,” the Commission stressed.
It added that the EU’s digital regulations ensure a safe, fair, and equitable environment for all businesses, applied justly and without discrimination.
“We have sought clarification from U.S. authorities and remain engaged in dialogue. If necessary, we will act swiftly and decisively to uphold our regulatory independence against unwarranted actions,” the European Commission reiterated.
The statement highlighted the EU’s commitment to protecting its citizens from online dangers, such as terrorism and child abuse imagery.
“EU legislation does not censor,” the European Commission emphasized.
Executive Vice-President of the EC for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies Henna Virkkunen also condemned the American decision on X, underscoring that the EU’s digital regulations were “democratically established by the European Parliament and member states.”
In addition to Breton, the travel ban also extends to the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Imran Ahmed, leaders of the German organization “HateAid,” Josefine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, and the head of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), Clare Melford. (24 December 2025)
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