The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US on five European individuals involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to reduce security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of linking 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 holiday period, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.
