USA: Supporting democracy defenders

USA: Supporting democracy defenders

Posted on December 24, 2025 Media 4 min read Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

USA: Supporting democracy defenders - Media

On 23 December, the US State Department sanctioned four civil society leaders, Imran Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of Hateaid, Clare Melford, CEO of The Global Disinformation Index, as well as former EU Commissioner and French government minister Thierry Breton, barring their entry to the United States.

These civil society leaders are working to ensure the digital world is safe for everyone. You would not get on a plane with an airline that refused safety checks. Just as we expect safety standards for aviation, automotive manufacturing, and public water systems, digital platforms serving hundreds of millions of Europeans must operate transparently and safely.

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA), the officials who enforce it, as well as the nonprofit organisations that work on information integrity, ensure online safety. They protect freedom of speech and expression, making sure hundreds of millions of Europeans can use social media and online platforms and express themselves - speech is not limited, it is protected from manipulation.

All those who defend democracy and freedom need to stand together, and we the undersigned stand with those wrongfully sanctioned here.

The US government must immediately rescind its actions barring entry of those working to protect information integrity and freedom of speech. It must stop falsely and misleadingly using the term 'censorship', where no censorship is taking place.

Very Large Online Platforms under the Digital Services Act should publicly reaffirm their commitment to full DSA implementation and compliance with the Code of Conduct on Disinformation, including transparent collaboration with independent researchers and civil society organisations monitoring platform practices

The EU and its Member States must stand firm and remain undeterred from defending and enforcing EU laws. The aim of defending fundamental rights and freedoms online, including free expression, lays at the heart of the Digital Services Act. Defending these values and EU sovereignty must be non-negotiable.

The rules the EU has adopted are indispensable for Europeans' sovereignty, independence, competitiveness, and liberty, as well as protecting freedom of speech. Any further EU legislation on digital technologies must have these principles and values at its core.

EU Member States and the United Kingdom should immediately call on the United States to reverse these travel restrictions, which target individuals working within established legal frameworks to protect democratic values. The EU institutions and national governments must actively support and defend anyone who faces threats, harassment, or defamation for upholding these principles and Europe's sovereignty in the digital sphere.

Signatories:

AlgorithmWatch

AlgorithmWatch CH

American Sunlight Project

hAlliance4Europe

ARTICLE 19

Defend Democracy

Data For Good France

Dezentrum

Fundación Maldita.es

The Khalifa Ihler Institute

Post-X Society

People vs Big Tech

New School of the Anthropocene

Vigilia

Sustainable AI Futures

Campact e.V.

CH++

The Firewall

Homo Digitalis

ctrl+alt+reclaim

CEE Digital Democracy Watch

D64 - Center for Digital Progress

Hermes Center

Digital Intimacy Coalition

Science Feedback

Digitale Gesellschaft (Schweiz)

Waag Futurelab

Stop Funding Hate / Stop Funding Heat

Transparency International EU

Alexandra Geese, Member of the European Parliament

Intersections

Politiscope

Public Circle Research & Consulting

Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe

WHAT TO FIX

Sergey Lagodinsky, Member of the European Parliament

Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties)