The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States on five Europeans involved in combating digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted figures that were at the heart of efforts to introduce laws governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration 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 joined France in criticizing the decision.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action 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 Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
