EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been central to campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
