The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including the French president accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions were placed on individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives 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 criticizing the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other legal developments:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
