EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the US against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to efforts to introduce legislation regulating American tech companies.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were enacted this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders contend the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In related judicial news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the action was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
