Trump administration moves to deny visas to factcheckers and content moderators
6 days ago
- #free speech
- #US immigration policy
- #visa restrictions
- The Trump administration is formalizing a crackdown on visas for individuals involved in censoring US citizens' free speech.
- A state department memo directs consular officials to deny visas to applicants complicit in censorship activities in the US.
- Enhanced vetting will target applicants working in misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, and online safety.
- The policy initially focuses on H-1B visa applicants but applies to all visa categories.
- This move aligns with Trump's broader efforts to restrict legal immigration and protect free speech.
- Applicants' work histories, including social media profiles, will be scrutinized for evidence of censorship activities.
- Tech industry workers, especially from India, may be significantly affected by these restrictions.
- Critics argue that conflating trust and safety work with censorship could harm critical protections for Americans.
- The administration defends the policy as protecting Americans' freedom of expression from foreign censorship.