The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce legislation governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the move.
The bans were imposed this week on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash involving Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
