European Union Could Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson States
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the United States against five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders argue the rules are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash involving Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
