🔗 Share this article EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Official States The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted figures that were central to campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government 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 move. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row risks becoming part of a far wider existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments Reported Today In other judicial news: A US district judge has halted efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance. Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital. Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
The European Union could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States against five Europeans involved in combating online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted figures that were central to campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government 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 move. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row risks becoming part of a far wider existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments Reported Today In other judicial news: A US district judge has halted efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance. Approval was given for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital. Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.