The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions were placed on individuals who have been central to efforts to introduce legislation governing American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the case was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
