The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions targeted figures that were central to campaigns to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.