🔗 Share this article EU Might Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in criticizing the move. The bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation. This row risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments Reported Today In other legal news: A federal judge has halted efforts to cut security grants 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. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.
The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and disinformation, an EU official stated. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the visa restrictions were placed on figures who have been central to campaigns to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “The current administration will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism Across Europe Nations including Germany, Spain, and the UK, alongside numerous EU representatives supported France in criticizing the move. The bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from Germany and the United Kingdom. A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while European leaders argue the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation. This row risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments Reported Today In other legal news: A federal judge has halted efforts to cut security grants 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. Authorization was issued for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, alongside an active border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in dozens of individuals from the US in return for increased assistance, following concluding a formal agreement with Washington. Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in the capital. Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.