The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as the French president charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts 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 policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, 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 foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
