🔗 Share this article EU Might Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans involved in combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the move. The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including 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, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions. Additional Updates in the News In other judicial news: A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans involved in combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to pressure American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the move. The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including 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, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions. Additional Updates in the News In other judicial news: A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.