The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States on five European individuals working on combating online hate and misinformation, an EU official stated.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals who have been at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the move.
The bans were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
This European legislation is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal developments:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
