EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Official Says
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unjustified” visa bans issued by the US on five European individuals working on combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted figures that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined France in criticizing the decision.
The restrictions were enacted on Tuesday against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance
The DSA is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.
This row risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving Washington and Europe.
Other Developments Reported Today
In other judicial developments:
- A federal judge has blocked attempts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
