EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to introduce legislation governing American tech companies.
“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” stated a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates in the News
In other legal developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
