State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'
6 days ago
- #censorship_debate
- #tech_industry
- #visa_policy
- The State Department is directing staff to deny H-1B visas to individuals involved in fact-checking, content moderation, or activities deemed 'censorship' by the Trump administration.
- The policy targets tech sector workers, particularly those in social media or financial services, citing suppression of free speech.
- Applicants' work histories, including roles in combating misinformation or trust and safety, will be scrutinized via resumes, LinkedIn, and media appearances.
- Critics argue the policy conflates trust and safety work with censorship, undermining efforts to protect users from harmful content.
- The administration defends the policy as protecting Americans' free speech, referencing Trump's past social media bans as justification.
- First Amendment experts criticize the policy as unconstitutional, arguing it violates free speech protections.
- The State Department will now require H-1B applicants to make social media profiles public for review by U.S. officials.