The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States against five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
This European legislation is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent 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”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy strategies.
