🔗 Share this article EU Could Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions were placed on figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders argue the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions. Other Developments Reported Today In other judicial news: A federal judge has blocked attempts to reduce security grants to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC. Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said. European Leaders Decry US Action as ‘Coercion’ Officials from Europe such as the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the visa restrictions were placed on figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance The DSA is seen by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders argue the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row threatens to become a facet of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between Washington and European institutions. Other Developments Reported Today In other judicial news: A federal judge has blocked attempts to reduce security grants to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation. A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities. Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC. Experts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a broader belief in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.