The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on figures who have been at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders contend the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
