EU Might Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says
The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unjustified” visa bans issued by the United States against five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions were placed on individuals who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in criticizing the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
This European legislation is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other legal news:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
