Europe Asia News

European Union officials defended the landmark digital rules after the Trump administration took action against what it called "a machine created to stir up censorship" and imposed sanctions, including a visa ban on a former EU Commissioner.

The European Commission stated that it "strongly condemns" the US decision, emphasizing that freedom of expression is "a fundamental right in Europe and a core value shared with the US in the democratic world."

Brussels asserted that the EU has a sovereign right to regulate its digital market according to its values and that its rules are applied "fairly and without discrimination."

The Commission said it would respond quickly and decisively to "unjust measures" from the US if necessary to protect its regulatory autonomy.

Digital rules have become a point of tension between Washington and Brussels, with both sides accusing each other of politicizing what should be standard market rules for companies operating in the EU.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, after the visa ban was imposed on former European Commissioner Breton, accused Washington of pursuing a policy of intimidation, stating that it was "pressure aimed at undermining Europe's digital sovereignty."

The French president, who has long campaigned for strategic autonomy, stated that the digital rules governing the EU market should be set by Europeans and only by Europeans.

Macron said he spoke to Breton on the phone after the announcement of the ban and "thanked him for his important contribution to serving Europe."

In a post on X, the French president wrote, "We will stand firm against pressure and protect Europeans."

Breton, who served as European Commissioner for Internal Market during Ursula von der Leyen's presidency, played a key role in preparing the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to hold social media and large online platforms accountable for the content they publish.