The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’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
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.
