The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the US on five European individuals involved in combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as the French president accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state 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 joined France in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In other judicial developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
