The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the US on five European individuals working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals that were central to campaigns to enact laws governing American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to punish 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 censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row risks becoming part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal news:
- A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
