The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been central to campaigns to enact laws governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
