The United States has imposed visa restrictions on five individuals, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, barring them from entering the country, the U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a social media post that those targeted "have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor."
Breton, who served as the European commissioner for the internal market from 2019-2024, rejected the U.S. move, calling it "witch hunt." In a statement issued the same day, he questioned "Is McCarthy's witch hunt back?"
Observers say the visa restrictions may be linked to growing tensions between the United States and the European Union over digital regulation.
On December 5, the European Commission issued its first non-compliance decision under the Digital Services Act, fining social media platform X -- owned by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk -- 120 million euros.
U.S. President Donald Trump responded by warning that the U.S. would impose additional tariffs on the EU if it continued to penalize American technology companies.
Since the beginning of the year, the EU has launched a series of enforcement actions against U.S. tech firms under the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
U.S. officials argue that the EU's regulatory framework unfairly targets American companies and have sought concessions by leveraging tariffs on steel and aluminum.
The EU slammed the U.S. approach as "blackmail," insisting that its digital regulations are a matter of sovereignty and allows no challenge.
US bars ex-EU commissioner amid escalating transatlantic digital regulation dispute
US bars ex-EU commissioner amid escalating transatlantic digital regulation dispute
