Paris: France has strongly criticised a decision by the United States to impose a visa ban on former European Union commissioner Thierry Breton, calling the move unjustified and damaging to relations between long standing allies.
The visa restriction was announced by the US administration under President Donald J Trump and targets Thierry Breton for his role in shaping the European Union’s Digital Services Act. The law sets rules for large online platforms to deal with illegal content and improve transparency.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot said the decision was unacceptable and stressed that the Digital Services Act was adopted through a democratic process within the European Union. He said the law applies only inside the EU and does not interfere with freedom of expression in the United States.
The US State Department said the visa ban was imposed because of concerns that European digital regulations could pressure American technology companies to limit speech. Along with Breton, several European and civil society figures linked to efforts against online hate and disinformation were also affected.
European Union officials rejected the US claims, saying the Digital Services Act is aimed at making online spaces safer by addressing illegal content, hate speech and risks to children. They said the law does not target the United States or American political opinions.
Germany also expressed concern over the move, while officials in Brussels warned that the issue could strain relations between transatlantic partners. They underlined that regulating digital platforms is part of Europe’s sovereign decision making.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between Washington and Brussels over how global technology companies should be governed. Observers say the visa ban could complicate cooperation on trade, security and digital policy at a time when both sides face shared global challenges.