EU Could Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official States

The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.

EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’

Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.

“For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”

Broad Criticism Across Europe

Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined the French president in criticizing the decision.

The bans were enacted on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.

A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation

The DSA is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.

This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.

Additional Updates Reported Today

In other legal news:

• A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
• Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
• A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.

Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.

Analysts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.