The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US against five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as the French president charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals who have been at the heart of efforts to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal developments:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
