EU Could Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Official Says

The EU might “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans issued by the United States on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.

EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Coercion’

Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans targeted individuals that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms.

“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” stated a senior US official online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”

Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations

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

The restrictions were enacted this week on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as several activists fighting false information, including Germany and the United Kingdom.

An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation

This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, while European leaders contend the regulations are essential to control hate speech and disinformation.

This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.

Additional Updates Reported Today

In other judicial news:

• A federal judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official ruled the case was “another example” of linking federal aid to policy compliance.
• Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the new year, coinciding with an active immigration enforcement operation.
• The nation of Palau has agreed to take in dozens of individuals from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after concluding a formal agreement with US authorities.

Furthermore, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.

Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil reflect a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.