Get ready for a transatlantic tech showdown: this week, on Wednesday December 24, 2025, the EU – backed by France, Germany and the UK – hit back at the US after Washington slapped visa bans on five European advocates tied to the Digital Services Act (DSA). 🌐✈️
On Tuesday December 23, 2025, the US State Department announced entry restrictions for former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, UK citizen Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, German activists Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon, and Clare Melford from the Global Disinformation Index. Their alleged offense? Pushing content rules that US tech giants say go too far.
An EU Commission spokesperson reminded everyone that freedom of expression is a core EU value and that the bloc has the sovereign right to set its own digital rules. The DSA, live since November 16, 2022, aims to create a safer, fairer online space for all companies and users by cracking down on hate speech, misinformation and sneaky design tricks.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and UK officials all criticized the US move as intimidation, stressing the DSA has no reach beyond Europe. Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Stephane Sejourne posted that no ban will silence European digital sovereignty. 🇪🇺🤝🇺🇸
Just last month, on December 5, the European Commission fined US-based social platform X 120 million euros for misleading users with its blue checkmark and lacking ad transparency – a sign that the DSA is more than talk. 😉
This clash shines a spotlight on who sets the rules for our online world. For young netizens across South and Southeast Asia, it's a reminder: the fight for digital rights and fair tech policy isn't just local – it's global. 💥
Reference(s):
EU slams U.S. travel bans on Europeans over tech regulations
cgtn.com
