The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the move.
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In related judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the holiday period, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
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 point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy strategies.
