The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are essential to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal developments:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, alongside an active border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
