The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated the US secretary of state online. “This government will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial developments:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce security grants to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
