The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the decision.
The bans were imposed this week on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row 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 developments:
- A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled 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 ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.
