US Denies Visas to Ex-EU Commissioner, Others Over Tech Rules; EU Slams "Witch Hunt"

• US State Department denied visas and imposed sanctions on five individuals, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton.
• The US accuses them of "coercing" American social media platforms into "censorship" over tech regulations like the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).
• Secretary Marco Rubio labeled the individuals "radical activists" advancing "censorship crackdowns" by foreign states.
• Targeted individuals include those from Centre for Countering Digital Hate, HateAid, and Global Disinformation Index.
• Breton, the EU, UK, and French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the US move as a "witch hunt" and an attack on regulatory autonomy.

Why It Matters: US sanctions EU/UK officials over tech rules, sparking international outcry and accusations of censorship.