🔗 Share this article EU Might Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official Says The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five European individuals working on fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated a senior US official online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined France in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were imposed this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders contend the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions. Other Developments Reported Today In other legal developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives. Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand 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 some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five European individuals working on fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” stated a senior US official online. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined France in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were imposed this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, along with four activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas European leaders contend the rules are necessary to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and European institutions. Other Developments Reported Today In other legal developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives. Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand 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 some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.