The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on combating online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.
European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals who have been at the heart of efforts to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish US perspectives they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the move.
The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.
An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities argue the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.
Other Developments in the News
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans prior to the holiday period, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following signing a formal agreement with US authorities.
Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.
Analysts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
