European Union Might Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on combating online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of efforts to enact legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related judicial developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
