The Trump administration accuses the EU of overreaching with its digital laws and threatens sanctions for interfering with the rights of American citizens
Soldecanarias.net
In a move that signals a new point of tension between Washington and Brussels, the United States government has announced visa restrictions on European officials who, it claims, have taken part in actions that limit the freedom of expression of American citizens.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained on Wednesday that the decision is a direct response to European digital regulations, particularly those that require tech platforms to moderate online content. Washington argues that these laws, though enacted in Europe, have extraterritorial effects and have been used to threaten or target U.S. citizens.
“It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants against U.S. citizens or residents for social media posts made while physically located in the United States,” Rubio stated in a release from the Department of State.
The statement denounces that European authorities have pressured U.S.-based platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and others to implement global content moderation policies beyond their national jurisdictions. “We will not tolerate intrusions into American sovereignty,” Rubio warned, emphasizing that the U.S. views such actions as a direct threat to one of its constitutional pillars: freedom of expression.
The move represents a drastic shift in the traditional U.S. stance, which has historically focused criticism on authoritarian regimes such as China, Iran, or Russia for censorship practices. This time, the diplomatic offensive targets transatlantic partners and traditional allies.
Tensions are rising in a politically charged climate. The announcement comes after weeks of statements by current President and former President Donald Trump, who has accused the “global left” of using social media to impose a “dictatorship of thought.” In March, Trump appeared publicly alongside Elon Musk, owner of X, in a symbolic show of support for an internet “free from ideological censorship.”
Although the list of affected European officials has not yet been disclosed, diplomatic sources indicate that measures could escalate if the European Union does not revise the international implications of its digital legislation.
So far, Brussels has not officially responded, but the issue is expected to open a new front of conflict in transatlantic relations just as both sides were seeking renewed dialogue on key issues such as trade, tech defense, and AI regulation.
