🔗 Share this article European Union Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the United States on five European individuals working on combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated. EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing American tech companies. “For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate 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 bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods. This row risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In related legal news: A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the United States on five European individuals working on combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated. EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing American tech companies. “For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will no longer tolerate 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 bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to control hate speech and falsehoods. This row risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In related legal news: A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official stated the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.