EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson States
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US on five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing American tech companies.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the move.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders argue the regulations are essential to combat inflammatory language and disinformation.
This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In other legal news:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to reduce security grants to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
