The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US on five European individuals working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were central to efforts to introduce legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts 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 criticizing the move.
The bans were imposed this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
This European legislation is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, while EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
