2025-12-24 14:28:58

Recent explosive news is truly shocking—the US government has directly banned visas for former EU officials Breton and four related individuals. The US State Department provided a clear reason: these individuals have demanded that US online platforms delete content, effectively suppressing freedom of speech.

This Breton's identity is particularly sensitive. He is a main proponent of the EU's Digital Services Act, and previously threatened to regulate the X platform after Elon Musk posted a full interview with Trump. Now, being directly blacklisted by the US marks a complete reversal.

The US stance is also very firm. Secretary of State Rubio stated in a declaration that these individuals' use of censorship to suppress American viewpoints has crossed the line. The implicit message is clear—your regulatory authority doesn't work on US soil.

But the deeper significance of this incident goes far beyond a visa ban. This is the first time that US and EU digital power struggles have directly targeted specific individuals, marking an escalation from policy disputes to actual sanctions. What was once mutual accusations of improper regulation has now turned into cross-border sanctions.

The potential chain reactions to follow are worth watching. The EU will likely announce countermeasures, and Silicon Valley executives may face visa obstacles when traveling to Europe. This could mean the global internet might truly split—platforms built to US standards or those aligned with European standards, forcing users and companies to choose sides.

X platform is now at the center of the storm. It faces support from the US government on one side and strict constraints from the EU's Digital Services Act on the other. Elon Musk is effectively caught in a vice from both sides. The operational strategies of the X platform in the coming months will serve as a barometer for this conflict.

What does this mean for ordinary internet users? The boundaries of posting freedom may become increasingly blurred. You won't know in which jurisdiction your speech might be deemed "illegal." This uncertainty is already changing people's expression habits.

For crypto market participants, especially projects involved in cross-border platform operations, this US-EU conflict will directly impact compliance costs and operational difficulties. Fragmented platform regulation has become a reality, and finding a balance across different jurisdictions has become a new challenge.

BTC-3,57%

ETH-5,07%

BNB-1,95%

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

13 Likes

Reward
13
8
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

MEVEye

· 2025-12-27 06:41

Elon Musk is really caught in the middle this time, neither side to offend. --- The internet split is inevitable; it's been obvious for a long time. --- The problem is, what should we small retail investors do? Platform rules change every day. --- The banning of Bretton is true power struggle, more straightforward than any policy document. --- On-chain freedom, off-chain censorship—maybe in the future, we’ll really have to choose one or the other. --- X platform is now a testing ground; let’s see how Elon Musk manages to survive haha. --- Crypto project teams are the most miserable; compliance costs are going to explode. --- Freedom of speech vs. platform governance—this question will never have a standard answer. --- The Cold War in Western and Eastern internet, we just wait and see the countermeasures. --- This kind of uncertainty has the biggest impact on cross-border operations of exchanges. The US and Europe are ready to take sides at any moment.

View OriginalReply0

0xSoulless

· 2025-12-25 11:13

Both sides are attacking, Musk's recent move is indeed a bit tough, but luckily X's cash flow is solid. Europe finally pushed back; now let's see who dares to casually regulate the platform again. Compliance costs are skyrocketing, small coin projects must be panicking, haha. Internet fragmentation is an inevitable trend; the early adopters should get used to it. The banning of the Bretton Woods agreement marks a shift in regulatory power. Platform fragmentation has been obvious for a long time; this is the new order. Musk can still stay strong despite being squeezed from both sides—respect, but where's the money? With compliance costs rising, whoever's wallet shrinks first loses. Freedom of speech vs. censorship—an eternal old script, just a different coat of paint. Big capital is probably watching X's movements now, waiting to see who gets chopped like a leek.

View OriginalReply0

SellTheBounce

· 2025-12-25 10:29

The split is coming. Shorting the global internet, huh? There's always a lower point waiting.

View OriginalReply0

AirdropHunter420

· 2025-12-24 14:59

The internet split is really becoming a reality Elon Musk is indeed caught in a squeeze, with pressure from both sides This is the real major event impacting the crypto world Sharded regulation, compliance costs are going to explode Things Americans can't see, Europeans can see? That's really absurd Decentralized platforms are about to take off The boundaries of free speech are becoming increasingly blurred, no one can fully grasp it Platform side-taking has become a settled matter, users are forced to choose sides The global battle over regulatory power, the crypto ecosystem will be the first to be affected At the core is a struggle for discourse rights, the crypto community can't escape it

View OriginalReply0

GateUser-c799715c

· 2025-12-24 14:53

The internet split is really happening, and both sides are fighting while we stay in the middle --- Elon Musk has really gone too far this time, both Europe and the US are not to be messed with --- Basically, it's a power struggle, and our freedom of speech has become a bargaining chip --- Compliance costs are going to explode, how can small projects survive --- Imagine having to check the law before posting anything in the future...ridiculous --- The X platform is now the one being pressed down and rubbed by both sides --- The EU's methods are indeed ruthless, but the US is not to be underestimated either --- This is a nightmare for those of us doing cross-border business --- Banning the Bretton Woods signing was truly self-inflicted; threatening the X platform and expecting to walk away unscathed --- The crypto market was already chaotic enough, and now regulation is becoming fragmented

View OriginalReply0

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

· 2025-12-24 14:46

This is the advantage of decentralization—no one can control the on-chain voice. The Internet is about to split; both sides want to seize the right to speak. Elon Musk is directly caught in the middle of this wave, it looks pretty satisfying though. Compliance costs are rising, small projects need to figure out how to survive. The ultimate game of censorship power, the only winners can be the users themselves.

View OriginalReply0

AirdropHunterZhang

· 2025-12-24 14:43

The internet split has the biggest impact on us airdrop enthusiasts. How can two legal system platforms get free rewards?

View OriginalReply0

MechanicalMartel

· 2025-12-24 14:32

So now freedom of speech also depends on your passport? --- Elon Musk really can't escape, both sides want to control him. --- Wait, what about the crypto community now... Will there really be two sets of rules? --- The internet fragmentation thing feels more terrifying than anything else. --- Is banning Bretton Woods just the beginning? --- I just want to know, which standard will my posts need to meet later? --- Platform fragmentation might be the biggest pitfall; project teams will have to spend more money.

View OriginalReply0