The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the US on five European individuals working on combating digital hatred and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’
European leaders including the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans were placed on figures that were at the heart of efforts to enact laws regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote 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 the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders contend the rules are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments 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 ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
