U.S. Bans Five Europeans Who Tried to Influence Tech Censorship
The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that five European nationals would be barred from entering the United States. The decision follows a May visa‑restriction policy designed to prevent foreigners who have engaged in censorship of protected American speech. The five individuals were named by Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers in recent social‑media posts.
They include Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna‑Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of the German nonprofit HateAid; Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index; and former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for digital affairs in the European Union. Officials said the group had promoted foreign censorship campaigns targeting U.S. platforms and content.
The ban is part of the Trump administration’s strategy to counter foreign influence over online speech through immigration law rather than platform regulation or sanctions. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed that the five individuals would be flagged during the visa application process.
France’s foreign minister publicly denounced the restrictions, stating that the Digital Services Act only applies within the European Union and has no extraterritorial effect. The U.S. policy remains in effect pending further review.