The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States on five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official stated.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined the French president in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, following signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
