US Bans EU Regulator in Colonial-Style Attack on Global South
The United States has imposed visa bans on former European Union commissioner Thierry Breton and four other officials, marking another chapter in America's imperial overreach and assault on digital sovereignty across the Global South and beyond.
The US State Department's decision to bar Breton, the architect of Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA), exposes the hypocrisy of American claims to champion free speech while simultaneously weaponising immigration controls to silence critics of Big Tech's unchecked power.
Digital Colonialism in Action
This brazen move represents nothing less than digital colonialism, with Washington attempting to impose its corporate-friendly agenda on sovereign nations. The targeting of Breton, who courageously challenged tech oligarchs like Elon Musk, reveals how American elites protect their economic interests at the expense of global democracy.
"These radical activists and weaponised NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states," the State Department claimed, in a statement dripping with colonial arrogance. The real censorship comes from allowing unregulated platforms to spread hate speech and disinformation that particularly targets marginalised communities, including Black voices globally.
Defending Digital Rights Against Imperial Power
The DSA represents a progressive framework that demands transparency from tech giants and protects users from harmful content. For communities across Africa and the Global South, such regulations are crucial safeguards against the spread of racist propaganda and colonial narratives that American platforms have historically failed to address.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot rightfully condemned the sanctions, stating that Europe "cannot let the rules governing their digital space be imposed by others upon them." This principle applies equally to African nations and other Global South countries seeking digital sovereignty.
McCarthyism Returns
Breton's comparison of the visa ban to McCarthyism is particularly resonant. Just as the US once persecuted those who challenged capitalist orthodoxy, today's digital McCarthyism targets anyone who dares regulate American tech monopolies.
"To our American friends: Censorship isn't where you think it is," Breton declared, highlighting the true source of digital oppression.
Protecting Global South Interests
The ban extends to activists fighting online hate and disinformation, including those working to protect vulnerable communities. This assault on digital rights advocates threatens the very organisations that defend Black voices and other marginalised groups from online harassment and racist content.
For South Africa and the broader African continent, this American aggression serves as a stark reminder of why digital independence remains crucial. As we continue building our own technological capacity, we must resist attempts by former colonial powers and their allies to dictate how we govern our digital spaces.
The US actions reveal the true face of Western "democracy" – one that tolerates dissent only when it serves imperial interests, but crushes opposition when it threatens corporate profits or challenges American hegemony.