European Union Could Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson States

The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.

European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’

Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions targeted figures that were at the heart of campaigns to introduce legislation regulating US-based technology firms.

“For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure American platforms to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state 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 France in criticizing the decision.

The bans were imposed on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as four activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.

A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation

This European legislation is viewed by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to combat hate speech and disinformation.

This row threatens to become part of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.

Other Developments Reported Today

In related legal developments:

• A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to adherence to directives.
• Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
• A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for additional aid, following concluding a memorandum of understanding with US authorities.

Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in Washington DC.

Experts have also noted that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in certain circles of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.