The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans targeted figures that were central to campaigns to enact laws regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the decision.
The bans were enacted this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
