EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans involved in combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to efforts to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism 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 this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.