The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US against five European individuals involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including the French president charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were central to efforts to enact legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to punish US perspectives they oppose,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported the French president in criticizing the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
