EU Could Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Official Says
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as the French president charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the decision.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
