US-sanctioned ex-EU commissioner urges political dialogue to resolve tech law dispute

US-sanctioned former European Commissioner Thierry Breton called Wednesday for high-level political dialogue to resolve Washington's sanctions against European officials over the EU's landmark digital regulation, describing the measures as a "misunderstanding" rather than a legal matter. Speaking at the European Parliament's Internal Market Committee in Brussels, Breton urged leaders to address the dispute through direct engagement.

Sanctions Context

Breton was sanctioned by the US administration in December 2025, barring him from entering the country and from using American technology and payment services. The measures also targeted other European nationals, including International Criminal Court judge Nicolas Guillou and NGO representatives working on monitoring online disinformation and hate speech. The State Department accused those affected of promoting "censorship crackdowns" targeting American speakers and companies.

Political Rather Than Legal

"It's not a question of a legal story. It's a question of political attitude," Breton told lawmakers, emphasizing that reversing the sanctions is important not only for those directly targeted but also to reaffirm the independence of EU institutions. Breton, a key architect of the Digital Services Act (DSA), rejected claims that the regulation undermines freedom of expression, noting it was adopted by nearly 90% of the European Parliament through a democratic process aimed at protecting citizens, democracy, and children online.

EU-US Legal Framework Differences

Breton stressed that while Europe respects the US First Amendment, it does not apply in Europe. "The First Amendment, we understand why it is so important in the US, but the First Amendment applies in the US, and we fully respect that, but it doesn't apply in Europe," he said. He added that anyone using a platform regulated in Europe must follow European rules, "as long as it is used and received in Europe, not more, not less." Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron asked President Donald Trump to lift what he described as "unjustly imposed sanctions" on several European citizens, setting the stage for potential leader-level resolution of the transatlantic tech regulation dispute.