The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
