The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US against five European individuals working on combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on figures that were central to campaigns to introduce laws governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
