Trump administration weighs sanctions on officials implementing EU tech law

US President Donald Trump's administration is considering imposing sanctions on European Union or member state officials responsible for implementing the bloc's landmark Digital Services Act, two sources familiar with the matter said, over US complaints that the law censors Americans and imposes costs on US tech companies, Report informs via Reuters.

Such a move would be an unprecedented action that would escalate the Trump administration's fight against what it sees as Europe's attempt to suppress conservative voices.

Senior State Department officials have yet to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with the punitive measures that would likely come in the form of visa restrictions, the sources said.

It was unclear which EU or EU member state officials the action would target, but US officials held internal meetings on the topic last week, according to the sources.

Trump on Monday threatened countries that have digital taxes with "subsequent additional tariffs" on their goods, if those nations did not remove such legislation.

While trading partners frequently complain about domestic rules they see as unfairly restrictive, sanctioning government officials over such a regulation is extremely rare. The relationship between the Trump administration and the European Union is already frayed by tariff threats and tense negotiations as well as US criticism of treatment of US tech companies.

Citing an internal State Department cable, Reuters this month reported that the Trump administration has instructed US diplomats in Europe to launch a lobbying campaign to build opposition to the Digital Services Act in an effort to have it amended or repealed.

The EU's DSA is meant to make the online environment safer in part by compelling tech giants to do more to tackle illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual abuse material.

Washington has said the EU is pursuing "undue" restrictions on freedom of expression in its efforts to combat hateful speech, misinformation and disinformation, and that the DSA is further enhancing these curbs.

In the early-August directive, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered US diplomats to regularly engage with EU governments and digital services authorities to convey US concerns about the DSA and the financial costs for US companies.