The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including the French president charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions were placed on figures that were at the heart of efforts to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
