European Union Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted figures who have been at the heart of efforts to enact legislation governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in condemning the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.
This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial developments:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy strategies.
