The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on figures that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming part of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial developments:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
