The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States against five Europeans working on combating online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on individuals that were central to campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
