The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including the French president charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government 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 France in criticizing the move.
The restrictions were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming part of a far wider existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other judicial developments:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- 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 a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
