European Union Could Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Official States
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted figures who have been central to efforts to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” 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 the French president in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking government assistance 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 migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
