Emmanuel Macron flays US travel ban on EU officials in the forefront of X action

The European Union and France have strongly condemned the travel ban the US has imposed on former European commissioner Thierry Breton and four other officials on grounds of censoring US social media platforms. 

US Secretary of State the State Marco Rubio, while announcing the travel ban on Tuesday, December 23, said Breton's entry bears "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the US.  

French President Emmanuel Macron said the travel ban amounts to intimidation and coercion that

undermines European digital sovereignty.

"The rules governing the European Union’s digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe," he wrote on X.

Macron added that the democratically adopted regulations ensure fair competition as well as to ensure "what is illegal offline is also illegal online."

Defending the action, Rubio said, "The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetise, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose."

Breton is one of the key figures who designed EU's Digital Services Act under which the bloc sanctioned social media platform X platform to ensure safe internet experience for all. 

Breton called the visa restriction a "witch hunt," stating 90% of the European Parliament had unanimously voted for the Act. 

However, Rubio in his statement hinted at course correction from the banned officials, warning that the US is ready to impose such bans on more officials "if other foreign actors do not reverse course".

The EU said it is engaged with US authorities for clarifications in the matter, emphasising that its relationship with the US is based on freedom of speech as a shared core value.  

"If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures," the EU said in a statement issued on December 24, adding that their digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies without discrimination.

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