🔗 Share this article EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson States The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms. “For far too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined France in criticizing the decision. The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In other judicial developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States against five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president charged the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms. “For far too long, European activists have spearheaded organised efforts to coerce American platforms to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “This government will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives joined France in criticizing the decision. The bans were imposed on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This row threatens to become part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In other judicial developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the case was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an ongoing border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities. Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Analysts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.