EU Could Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official States
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the United States on five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been at the heart of efforts to enact laws governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming part of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.