The European Union, France, and Germany Decry US Visa Bans on European Defenders of Digital Integrity
In a vigorous response to recent US visa prohibitions, officials from the European Union, France, and Germany have condemned the actions targeting five Europeans who are at the forefront of combating online hate and disinformation. Authorities in Brussels have indicated that the EU may “react swiftly and decisively” to these “unjustified measures”.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s administration levied visa bans on five individuals, prominently featuring former French EU commissioner Thierry Breton.
The rationale behind these bans is the allegation that these figures are engaged in efforts to stifle freedom of speech and disproportionately encumber US technology giants with rigorous regulations.
This development represents a troubling intensification of tensions between the United States and Europe, with American officials asserting that the continent is increasingly losing relevance due to lax defenses, challenges in managing immigration, excessive bureaucracy, and the suppression of nationalist perspectives to prevent them from attaining power.
Senior officials in Brussels, Paris, and Berlin have vociferously defended Europe’s prerogative to legislate on the operational modalities of foreign companies.
A spokesperson for the European Commission remarked that it “strongly condemns the US decision,” emphasizing that “freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic expanse.”
The EU has signaled its intention to engage with the United States for clarification, yet the Commission maintained that it might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it deems “unjustified measures”.
European Officials Criticize Visa Restrictions
French President Emmanuel Macron, actively traversing the nation to raise awareness about the risks posed by disinformation to democratic structures, has expressed support for Breton, acknowledging his contributions.
Macron articulated that these measures represent “intimidation and coercion”, aiming to undermine European digital sovereignty via a post on X.
Breton, who previously served as France’s finance minister and as the European commissioner for the internal market from 2019 to 2024, was instrumental in drafting the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a transformative piece of legislation.
The DSA endeavors to render the internet secure by mandating tech giants to more vigorously combat illegal content, such as hate speech and child sexual exploitation material.
However, the DSA has irked the US administration, which contends that Europe is imposing “undue” constraints on freedom of expression while striving to address hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation issues. Critics argue that the DSA disproportionately targets US technology firms and citizens.
Earlier this month, US officials expressed particular indignation when the EU imposed a €120 million ($211 million) fine on Elon Musk’s X platform for breaching online content regulations.
The visa bans extend to Imran Ahmed, the British CEO of the US-based Center for Countering Digital Hate; Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from the German non-profit HateAid; and Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index, as per US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Sarah Rogers.
Germany’s justice ministry has extended its “support and solidarity” to the two German activists, denouncing the bans as unacceptable while asserting that HateAid focuses on assisting victims of illegal digital hate speech.
They stated, “Anyone who describes this as censorship is misrepresenting our constitutional system,” reinforcing that “the standards by which we choose to navigate the digital domain in Germany and Europe are not dictated in Washington.”
The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding free speech rights. A spokesperson from the UK government asserted, “While every country maintains the right to establish its own visa protocols, we advocate for the laws and institutions striving to keep the internet free from the most harmful content.”
Source link: Sbs.com.au.
