🔗 Share this article European Union Might Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson States The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the United States on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on figures that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions 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 on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions. Additional Updates Reported Today In other legal developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the United States on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on figures that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions 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 on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions. Additional Updates Reported Today In other legal developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.