EU Might Respond to ‘Unjustified’ US Visa Bans, Official Says

The European Union might “act quickly and firmly” against what it deems “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the US against five Europeans working on fighting digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.

EU Officials Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’

European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron accused the US administration of “bullying and threats”, following 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 organised efforts to pressure American platforms to punish US perspectives they oppose,” stated the US secretary of state online. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”

Widespread Condemnation Across Europe

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

The bans were enacted on Tuesday against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as several anti-disinformation campaigners, from 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 regulations are necessary to combat hate speech and falsehoods.

This row risks becoming part of a far wider ongoing cultural and political conflict between the current US administration and European institutions.

Other Developments Reported Today

In other judicial developments:

• A US district judge has blocked attempts to cut security grants to states which resist specific federal immigration rules. The judge ruled the case was “a further instance” of tying government assistance to policy compliance.
• Approval was given for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the new year, alongside an active border security initiative.
• The nation of Palau has agreed to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after concluding a memorandum of understanding with Washington.

Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.

Analysts point out that recent statements regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, leading to parallels with past foreign policy strategies.