EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official Says
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the US against five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as the French president charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to efforts to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far 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 online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city 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 signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.