EU Might Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official Says
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official stated.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure American platforms to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.