The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals who have been central to campaigns to introduce legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
