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

The EU could “respond swiftly and decisively” in response to what it calls “unjustified” travel bans imposed by the United States on five European individuals involved in combating digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.

European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Intimidation’

European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, after the visa restrictions were placed on figures that were central to efforts to enact laws regulating US-based technology firms.

“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state in a social media post. “This government will not stand for these egregious acts of censorship beyond its borders.”

Broad Criticism From EU Nations

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

The restrictions were imposed this week against a former EU commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as several activists fighting false information, from two in Germany and two in the UK.

An Escalating Conflict Over Regulation

The DSA is seen by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities contend the regulations are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.

This disagreement threatens to become part of a far wider existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and Europe.

Other Developments Reported Today

In other legal developments:

• A federal judge has blocked efforts to cut federal homeland security funding to states which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the action was “a further instance” of linking 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 take in a limited number of migrants from the US in return for increased assistance, following signing a formal agreement with Washington.

Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of a political figure’s name from a prominent cultural institution in Washington DC.

Experts have also noted that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy strategies.