The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it deems “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US on five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as the French president accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were imposed this week against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- 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 has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
