The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of efforts to enact laws governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported the French president in condemning the move.
The restrictions were enacted this week on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following 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 well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
