🔗 Share this article EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said. EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments in the News In related legal news: A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives. Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, alongside an active border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center 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.
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said. EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments in the News In related legal news: A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives. Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, alongside an active border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center 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.