The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States against five European individuals working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been central to campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal developments:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.
