EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official States

The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States against five European individuals involved in fighting digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.

European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’

Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals who have been central to campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms.

“For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”

Broad Criticism Across Europe

Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in condemning the decision.

The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.

A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation

This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders argue the rules are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.

This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.

Other Developments in the News

In other judicial news:

• A US district judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
• Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
• The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.

Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.

Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.