The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans involved in combating digital hatred and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans targeted figures that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in criticizing the decision.
The bans were enacted this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
