The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans working on combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision.
The bans were imposed this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal news:
- A federal judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent 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 Democratic lawmaker 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 reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.
