The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as the French president charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation governing American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in criticizing the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut security grants to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the case was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
