The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on figures that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become part of a much broader existing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In other judicial news:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the action was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
