EU Might Retaliate to ‘Unwarranted’ US Travel Restrictions, Spokesperson Says

The EU could “act quickly and firmly” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans imposed by the United States against five Europeans involved in fighting digital hatred and disinformation, an EU official has said.

EU Officials Condemn US Move as ‘Intimidation’

Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron accused Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions were placed on individuals that were at the heart of efforts to enact legislation regulating US-based technology firms.

“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they disagree with,” wrote a senior US official online. “The current administration will no longer tolerate such actions of censorship beyond its borders.”

Broad Criticism Across Europe

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

The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday on an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), along with several activists fighting false information, including two in Germany and two in the UK.

An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation

The DSA is seen by Washington as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities argue the regulations are necessary to combat inflammatory language and falsehoods.

This disagreement risks becoming a facet of a far wider existing cultural and political conflict between Washington and European institutions.

Additional Updates Reported Today

In other legal developments:

• A US district judge has blocked efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The official stated the action was “a further instance” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
• Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members 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 return for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with US authorities.

Additionally, a Democratic lawmaker has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of a political figure’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.

Analysts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources reflect a wider ideology in certain circles of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy actions.