The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unjustified” travel bans issued by the US against five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including the French president accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on figures who have been central to efforts to introduce legislation governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the move.
The bans were imposed this week on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
