The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to enact laws regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other legal developments:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
