The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on figures that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the move.
The bans were enacted this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other legal news:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the case was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- 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 accept dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.
