Wed Dec 24 16:55:22 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text:

The United States has imposed sanctions, including visa denials, on five European figures, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, for their role in regulating tech companies, particularly concerning the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The US claims these individuals are trying to coerce social media platforms into censoring opposing viewpoints. The EU, France, Germany, and Spain have condemned the sanctions, viewing them as an attack on European regulatory autonomy and digital sovereignty. They assert that the DSA is a democratically adopted law aimed at creating a safe and fair digital space and deny accusations of censorship. The sanctioned individuals and organizations also denounced the US actions as a political witch hunt and an act of repression.

Here’s the rewritten news article:

U.S. Sanctions European Tech Regulators, Sparks International Outcry

Brussels, December 24, 2025 – The United States has imposed sanctions, including visa denials, on five European figures involved in regulating technology companies, triggering strong condemnation from the European Union and several member states. Among those sanctioned is former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, considered a key architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

The U.S. State Department accused the sanctioned individuals of seeking to coerce American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to X to proclaim that the U.S. would no longer tolerate “egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”

European leaders have vehemently rejected the U.S. accusations. French President Emmanuel Macron called the sanctions “intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty,” while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized the DSA was democratically adopted for the EU and has no extraterritorial effect.

The European Commission released a statement asserting it will “respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures.” They maintain that the DSA ensures a safe and fair digital environment for all companies.

The DSA mandates major platforms explain content moderation decisions, provide transparency for users, and ensure researchers can access data to study the impact of online content. However, the act has become a target for U.S. conservatives who view it as a tool for censoring right-wing voices.

Other individuals sanctioned include Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, and Clare Melford of the Global Disinformation Index. These organizations have also denounced the U.S. actions as an attempt to silence critics and undermine the rule of law. The incident has raised concerns about increasing tensions between the U.S. and Europe regarding digital regulation and the balance between free speech and content moderation.

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