🔗 Share this article EU Might Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’ European leaders including Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to campaigns to enact laws regulating American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the move. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods. This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions. Additional Updates in the News In related judicial developments: A US district judge has halted efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance. Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital. Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’ European leaders including Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to campaigns to enact laws regulating American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the move. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods. This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions. Additional Updates in the News In related judicial developments: A US district judge has halted efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to policy compliance. Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital. Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.