European Union Could Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Official Says
The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms 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 extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.