🔗 Share this article European Union Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official Says The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated. EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders such as the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals who have been central to efforts to enact laws regulating American tech companies. “For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions. Other Developments Reported Today In other legal news: A federal judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities. Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.
The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated. EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders such as the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals who have been central to efforts to enact laws regulating American tech companies. “For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and European institutions. Other Developments Reported Today In other legal news: A federal judge has halted efforts to cut security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities. Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.