Former EU commissioner Thierry Breton was among the five Europeans targeted with US visa bans. Secretary of state Marco Rubio said the five people targeted with visa bans – who include former European commissioner Thierry Breton – have led “organised efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetise, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose”. “These radical activists and weaponised NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states – in each case targeting American speakers and American companies,” Mr Rubio said in an announcement. The five named were: Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of HateAid, a German organisation; Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index; and former EU commissioner Mr Breton. Ms Rogers called Mr Breton – who served as the European commissioner for the internal market from 2019-2024 – “a mastermind” of the DSA.

Source: The Irish Times December 24, 2025 14:01 UTC