European Union Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as the French president charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were central to campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.
The restrictions were imposed this week on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
