EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says

The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official has said.

European Leaders Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’

Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce laws governing American tech companies.

“For far too long, European activists have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”

Broad Criticism Across Europe

Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in condemning the move.

The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including two in Germany and two in the UK.

An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance

The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and disinformation.

This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict involving Washington and Europe.

Additional Updates in the News

In other legal news:

• A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge stated the case was “another example” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
• Authorization was issued for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
• The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington.

Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.

Analysts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international actions.