🔗 Share this article European Union Could Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official States The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Widespread Condemnation Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the move. The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods. This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and Europe. Other Developments in the News In other legal news: A US district judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Widespread Condemnation Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the move. The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods. This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and Europe. Other Developments in the News In other legal news: A US district judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Experts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.