The Trump administration has taken steps to bar visas for fact-checkers and content moderation workers accused of restricting the speech of American users. As per the memo, the government will move to block visa approvals for individuals accused of “censoring the free speech of US citizens.”
Reports from NPR and Reuters say the State Department has circulated a memo to its missions abroad instructing consular officers to reject visa applications from anyone “responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the US.”
A State Department spokesperson told NPR the memo had been leaked, but did not dispute that the document was genuine. “The Administration has made clear that it defends Americans’ freedom of expression against foreigners who wish to censor them. We do not support aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans,” as per the spokesperson, quoted by TOI.
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The spokesperson highlighted the President’s experience with social media restrictions, saying this type of control should not affect any American. “In the past, the President himself was the victim of this kind of abuse when social media companies locked his accounts. He does not want other Americans to suffer this way. Allowing foreigners to lead this type of censorship would both insult and injure the American people,” the spokesperson added.
Trump’s accounts on Twitter and Facebook were suspended following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot in Washington, DC.
The memo called for stricter screening of visa applicants to determine whether they have worked in fields involving “misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others.”
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Diplomatic officials have been directed to deny visas to anyone involved in fact-checking, content moderation, or other work the Trump administration views as “censorship of Americans’ speech.”
Officials have been instructed to carefully review applicants’ work history, LinkedIn profiles, and other social media accounts, as well as media mentions, for any involvement in “activities including combatting misinformation, disinformation or false narratives, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.”
The memo instructs that if a vetting officer finds evidence suggesting an applicant was involved in censorship activities, “you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible (for a visa).”