🔗 Share this article EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders such as the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation regulating American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.” Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move. The bans were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments in the News In other judicial developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.
The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five European individuals involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said. European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Intimidation’ European leaders such as the French president accused the US administration of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation regulating American tech companies. “For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to pressure US companies to suppress American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of censorship beyond its borders.” Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move. The bans were enacted on Tuesday on a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom. An Escalating Conflict Regarding Governance This European legislation is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities contend the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe. Other Developments in the News In other judicial developments: A US district judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “a further instance” of tying federal aid to adherence to directives. Approval was given for the dispatch of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an ongoing border security initiative. The nation of Palau has agreed to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC. Analysts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with historical international strategies.