The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US on five European individuals working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on figures who have been at the heart of efforts to introduce laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing 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 anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
