The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the US against five European individuals working on combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted figures that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement risks becoming part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
