United States imposes fresh visa limitations
U.S. Implements New Visa Restrictions on Foreigners Accused of Censoring Americans
The United States government has introduced new visa restrictions on foreigners who are believed to be limiting the free speech of Americans, particularly on social media platforms. This announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Rubio expressed concern over foreign officials who are issuing or threatening arrest warrants against U.S. citizens for posts on American social media platforms while they are physically present in the U.S. He also criticized foreign officials who demand that American technology platforms adopt global content moderation policies or participate in censorship measures that exceed their jurisdiction and impact the United States.
The U.S. Department of State considers it unacceptable for foreign officials to curtail the free speech rights of American citizens. Rubio stated, "Americans have been fined, harassed, and even prosecuted by foreign authorities for exercising their right to free speech for too long."
According to the U.S. government, these actions are a violation of the sovereignty of the United States. Rubio expressed that the days of leniency towards those who undermine the rights of Americans are over. He emphasized that foreign governments have no authority over these rights, and individuals from abroad who undermine them should not be granted U.S. visas.
While specific countries were not named, Rubio mentioned Latin America and Europe as potential targets for the policy. The U.S. has expressed concerns over content moderation practices in these regions, particularly in Europe, where discussions about misinformation and censorship have been prominent.
Further details about the new measure were not immediately available, but the U.S. Department of State emphasized that family members of the affected individuals may also be subject to the visa restrictions. The U.S. government under President Donald Trump has pursued a hardline policy on certain visa issuances since taking office, with some foreign students having their visas revoked in recent months.
This policy represents a significant escalation in U.S. opposition to global regulations perceived as infringing on American free expression rights.
The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the programme to include the following areas: migration, war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news. This new initiative aims at holding accountable foreign officials who use these platforms to censor Americans, especially those influencing public opinion during critical phases like war, migration crises, or political elections.
The Commission believes that foreign interference in American free speech, particularly in areas like migration, war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, can undermine the U.S. democratic process and jeopardize national security. It intends to ensure that foreign governments respect the sovereignty and free speech rights of American citizens when engaging with American technology platforms.
