News - US-EU Digital Dispute Deepens: Macron Accuses 'Intimidation'

In a diplomatic standoff, French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the US of 'intimidation and coercion' following visa restrictions on senior EU officials. The US sanctions target Thierry Breton, a top EU official pivotal to drafting the EU Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, which impose strict rules on US tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon. The US argues these rules are discriminatory. Tensions escalated after the EU fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X $130 million under these acts, prompting US criticism of unfair targeting. Macron, defending the EU’s stance, emphasized that the rules promote fair competition and were democratically agreed upon, not influenced by outside entities. The EU Commission echoed Macron's sentiments, vowing to protect its regulatory autonomy against unjust US measures. This clash also features in the new US National Security Strategy, warning the EU about risks from perceived suppression of opposition and regulatory overreach.