🔗 Share this article EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official States The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on individuals that were central to efforts to enact laws governing American tech companies. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” stated the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Widespread Condemnation Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision. The bans were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation This European legislation is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation. This disagreement risks becoming part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe. Additional Updates in the News In other legal news: A US district judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to accept dozens of migrants 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 well-known cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy strategies.
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions were placed on individuals that were central to efforts to enact laws governing American tech companies. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” stated the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Widespread Condemnation Across Europe Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined France in criticizing the decision. The bans were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner who helped draft the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, from Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation This European legislation is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders contend the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and disinformation. This disagreement risks becoming part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and Europe. Additional Updates in the News In other legal news: A US district judge has blocked attempts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the action was “another example” of linking government assistance to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the holiday period, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to accept dozens of migrants 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 well-known cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy strategies.