US Empire Strikes Back: Visa Bans Target EU Regulators Fighting Big Tech Tyranny
The United States has shown its true imperial colours by imposing visa bans on European officials who dared to challenge American tech monopolies, revealing how Washington weaponises its power to protect corporate interests over democratic oversight.
Former European Commission commissioner Thierry Breton, the architect of Europe's groundbreaking Digital Services Act (DSA), has been barred from entering the US alongside four other officials who fought against online hate and misinformation.
The US State Department's justification exposes the hypocrisy at the heart of American foreign policy. They accuse these officials of "censorship" while simultaneously censoring them through visa bans, a move that reeks of the very authoritarianism they claim to oppose.
Colonial Mentality on Full Display
This aggressive action demonstrates how the US continues to operate with a colonial mindset, expecting other nations to bow to American corporate interests. When European democracies passed laws to protect their citizens from tech platform abuses, Washington's response was swift and punitive.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot correctly condemned the restrictions, stating that Europe "cannot let the rules governing their digital space be imposed by others upon them." This sentiment should resonate deeply with any nation that has experienced imperial domination.
Breton himself compared the situation to the McCarthy era, calling it a "witch hunt." His defiant response, "To our American friends: Censorship isn't where you think it is," cuts to the heart of American hypocrisy.
Protecting Corporate Power Over People
The DSA represents everything progressive about European governance, requiring tech platforms to explain content moderation decisions, provide transparency, and protect children from harmful content. Yet the US frames these democratic protections as attacks on American sovereignty.
The visa bans also targeted activists fighting online hate, including Imran Ahmed of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, and German officials from HateAid. This reveals how the US prioritises protecting hate speech and misinformation over human dignity.
Washington's threats extend to major European companies including Siemens and Spotify, showing how economic coercion remains a favourite tool of American imperialism.
Lessons for the Global South
This episode offers crucial insights for nations in the Global South, including South Africa. When countries attempt to regulate foreign corporations or protect their digital sovereignty, they can expect American retaliation.
The US suspension of tech cooperation with Britain over similar laws demonstrates that even America's closest allies face punishment for asserting digital independence.
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared an "America First foreign policy," the message is clear: American corporate interests supersede democratic governance everywhere else.
For nations seeking true independence from neo-colonial control, this confrontation between Europe and America provides a roadmap for resistance and the inevitable backlash that follows.