EU's Breton Defies US Pressure on Social Media Regulation, Vows to Resist Influence

The European Union's former digital chief, Thierry Breton, has urged his bloc to resist US attempts to influence its social media regulation laws. Breton, who was recently sanctioned by the Trump administration, believes the EU's institutions have been too weak in the face of US pressure. As the chief enforcer of the Digital Services Act, Breton aimed to regulate content moderation on social media platforms. The US administration has imposed visa bans on Breton and several activists, labeling their efforts to combat online hate speech as censorship against American tech companies. Breton has received widespread political backing after the US visa ban announcement. He believes that the EU should not cave in to US pressure and alter laws that were democratically voted for to appease social media platforms. Breton, who left the European Commission in September 2024, was surprised to learn about the US visa ban. He presented legislation that was backed by nearly 90% of EU lawmakers and all member states to protect European users, including children and teenagers. Undeterred by the US ban, Breton urged the EU to stand firm against external pressure and continue its efforts to regulate social media platforms in the interests of its citizens.