EU warns of possible action after US bars five Europeans accused of censorship

The European Union's executive branch has warned it would respond to any "unjustified measures" after the US State Department barred five Europeans it accuses of pressuring American tech companies to censor or limit US viewpoints.

The European Commission, which supervises tech regulation in Europe, said it has requested clarification about the move. A spokesperson for the commission said it "strongly" condemns the US decision, adding: "Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world." The Europeans, who were labelled as "radical" activists by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, include the EU commissioner responsible for supervising social media rules, Thierry Breton.

Mr Breton, a former French finance minister, engaged in a social media dispute last year with tech billionaire Elon Musk over airing an online interview with Donald Trump in the months before the US election. The other Europeans are Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of the German organisation HateAid, and Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index.

Mr Rubio has said the five had advanced foreign government censorship campaigns against Americans and US companies, creating "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States. "If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures," the commission said in a statement, without elaborating.

"Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination," it said. 'Foundation of our vibrant European democracy' The UK government said it is "fully committed to upholding the right to free speech.