The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions were placed on individuals who have been at the heart of efforts to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were enacted this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
