🔗 Share this article EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to enact legislation governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In related legal developments: A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding 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 point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US on five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said. European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders including the French president charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to enact legislation governing American tech companies. “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were enacted this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation. This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving the current US administration and European institutions. Other Developments in the News In related legal developments: A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce security grants to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives. Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city prior to the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation. The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding 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 point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.