🔗 Share this article EU Could Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson States The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official stated. European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments in the News In other legal developments: A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued 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 dozens of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC. Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official stated. European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments in the News In other legal developments: A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued 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 dozens of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC. Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.