The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US against five European individuals involved in combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals who have been central to efforts to introduce legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision.
The bans were enacted this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash involving Washington and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
