🔗 Share this article European Union Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on figures who have been central to efforts to enact laws regulating American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the move. The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In other judicial developments: A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on figures who have been central to efforts to enact laws regulating American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the move. The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In other judicial developments: A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.