🔗 Share this article EU Might Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five European individuals involved in combating digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official stated. EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted figures who have been central to efforts to enact laws governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation. This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions. Additional Updates in the News In other judicial developments: A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance. Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five European individuals involved in combating digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official stated. EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans targeted figures who have been central to efforts to enact laws governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation. This row threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions. Additional Updates in the News In other judicial developments: A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance. Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.