EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal developments:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
