State Department to Deny Visas to Fact-Checkers, Critics, Citing Censorship Concerns
The State Department is instructing staff to deny visa applications to individuals involved in fact-checking, content moderation, and related activities, citing concerns about “censorship” of American speech. This directive targets H-1B visa applicants, particularly those in the tech sector, and instructs consular officers to scrutinize their work histories for activities combating misinformation or managing online content. The policy stems from the Trump administration’s criticism of tech companies and their efforts to regulate online content, with the administration claiming censorship of Americans. First Amendment experts are criticizing this guidance as a potential violation of free speech rights.
John Q. Hosedrinker