US government to impose visa ban on foreign officials who order blocking or censoring on social media
The US has announced a new visa policy that will bar foreign officials from entering the country if they are found to have ordered censorship or restrictions on social media content involving American citizens or tech companies. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed the policy on Wednesday, saying the country would no longer tolerate foreign interference in the free speech of an American, according to a report by Reuters. Rubio said that the ban would apply to foreign nationals responsible for censorship of protected expressions in the US, including those who issue arrest warrants or attempt to silence Americans on platforms like Facebook, X, or Instagram.advertisementHe says that it is 'unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States'. He described such actions as 'flagrant censorship' against US citizens and tech companies, noting that these officials often have 'no authority' to impose such rules in the first place.Rubio did not mention any specific laws or incidents, but the US government has been increasingly vocal about the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires large tech platforms to remove illegal content or face hefty penalties. In April this year, reports suggested that the EU was preparing to fine Elon Musk's social media platform, X, with a penalty of around $1 billion due to illicit content and misinformation on the platform. Meanwhile, US officials have criticised the DSA as overly restrictive and harmful to freedom of expression. Companies like Meta and X have also raised concerns that the law could be used to suppress free speech.advertisement
Trump administration officials have also been outspoken about European actions. Vice President JD Vance had called content moderation in the EU 'authoritarian censorship' during a visit to Paris earlier this year.Rubio reportedly also said that the US will no longer take a 'passive' approach to those attempting to undermine Americans' rights. 'Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over,' he wrote on social media.The new visa policy also reflects a broader trend of immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration. Just a day before Rubio's announcement, the US Embassy in India warned international students against skipping classes or dropping out of their courses, cautioning that doing so could lead to visa revocations. Additionally, proposed legislation now threatens to end the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which was a key route for internal students to work in the US after graduation.
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