European Union Could Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson States
The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the US against five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the decision.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal news:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
