The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce legislation governing American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move.
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action 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 holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
