🔗 Share this article EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official Says The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals who have been at the heart of efforts to enact legislation governing American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” stated a senior US official 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 supported France in condemning the decision. The restrictions were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe. Additional Updates in the News In related legal news: A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance. Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals who have been at the heart of efforts to enact legislation governing American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” stated a senior US official 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 supported France in condemning the decision. The restrictions were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe. Additional Updates in the News In related legal news: A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance. Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.