EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says
The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce laws governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists 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. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In related judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the action was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
