The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US against five European individuals working on fighting online hate and misinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In related judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
