EU Might Respond to ‘Unwarranted’ US Visa Bans, Spokesperson Says

The EU might “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US on five European individuals working on fighting online hate and disinformation, a European Commission spokesperson stated.

EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’

European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce laws regulating American tech companies.

“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to suppress US perspectives they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”

Broad Criticism Across Europe

Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in criticizing the move.

The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.

A Deepening Dispute Regarding Governance

The DSA is viewed by US officials as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders contend the rules are essential to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.

This row risks becoming a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.

Other Developments Reported Today

In other legal developments:

• A federal judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
• Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to a major US city ahead of the new year, alongside an active border security initiative.
• A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.

Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has initiated legal action to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known performing arts center in Washington DC.

Analysts have also noted that comments regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.