The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it deems “unjustified” visa bans imposed by the US on five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in criticizing the move.
The bans were enacted this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In related legal news:
- A US district judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
