The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the US against five European individuals working on combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the holiday period, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
