The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US against five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints 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 joined France in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, including 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 argue the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In related judicial developments:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
