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

The EU might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unwarranted” travel bans issued by the US against five Europeans involved in fighting online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.

European Leaders Condemn US Action as ‘Coercion’

Officials from Europe including the French president accused Washington of “bullying and threats”, after the visa restrictions targeted individuals that were central to campaigns to introduce laws governing US-based technology firms.

“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”

Broad Criticism From EU Nations

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

The bans were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.

An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation

The DSA is seen by US officials as a type of speech restriction, while EU authorities contend the regulations are essential to combat hate speech and falsehoods.

This row threatens to become a facet of a far wider existing political and ideological clash involving Washington and Europe.

Additional Updates Reported Today

In other judicial developments:

• A US district judge has halted efforts to reduce federal homeland security funding to states that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge stated the action was “another example” of tying federal aid to policy compliance.
• Authorization was issued for the deployment of 350 national guard members to a major US city ahead of the new year, alongside an active immigration enforcement operation.
• A Pacific Island nation has agreed to take in dozens of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.

Furthermore, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the stripping of the current president’s name from a prominent performing arts center in the capital.

Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with historical international strategies.