The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including the French president accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to efforts to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.
The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.
This row risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates in the News
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative.
- The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.
Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts point out that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
