The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on figures that were central to campaigns to introduce legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the rules are essential to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In related legal developments:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
