🔗 Share this article EU Could Retaliate to ‘Unjustified’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said. European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against 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. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions. Additional Updates Reported Today In other judicial news: A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance. Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital. Analysts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.
The European Union could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans working on fighting online hate and misinformation, an EU official has said. European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’ European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the travel bans were placed on figures who have been at the heart of campaigns to enact laws governing US-based technology firms. “For too long, European activists have led coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.” Broad Criticism From EU Nations Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported the French president in criticizing the decision. The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday against 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. A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation This European legislation is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are essential to control inflammatory language and falsehoods. This disagreement risks becoming part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions. Additional Updates Reported Today In other judicial news: A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “a further instance” of linking federal aid to policy compliance. Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the holiday period, coinciding with an active border security initiative. A Pacific Island nation will consent to take in a limited number of individuals from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Additionally, a congressional representative has initiated legal action seeking the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital. Analysts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a broader belief in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international actions.