The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US on five Europeans involved in combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals who have been central to campaigns to enact legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” 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 condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
