European Union Might Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were central to efforts to enact laws regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure American platforms to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- 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 active border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
