EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson States
The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as the French president charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related judicial news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
