The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on figures that were central to efforts to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
