🔗 Share this article EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson States The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision. The bans were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation. This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments Reported Today In related legal news: A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision. The bans were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation. This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments Reported Today In related legal news: A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.