The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US against five European individuals involved in combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on figures that were central to efforts to enact legislation governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” stated a senior US official online. “This government 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 criticizing the decision.
The bans were imposed this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, 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 well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
