Rubio unveils visa sanctions against foreign agents undermining free speech
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Photo: Getty Images)
The US has announced measures to counter the so-called global censorship complex and imposed visa restrictions on a number of foreign individuals, according to the US Department of State.
Washington is currently imposing visa sanctions on five individuals accused of attempting to pressure American technology companies into censoring content and restricting freedom of speech, including American viewpoints.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the US will not tolerate extraterritorial actions aimed at limiting freedom of expression, nor coercion of American platforms into removing or blocking content.
Updated at 5:24
According to Bloomberg, the US has imposed visa restrictions on former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and leaders of organizations involved in combating disinformation.
The restrictions target individuals who study harmful online content. Among them are Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH); Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI); and two employees of the German nonprofit organization HateAid — Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon.
The statement notes that the new measures are part of a broader strategy by the administration of US President Donald Trump aimed at protecting freedom of speech and countering international networks that, according to Washington, coordinate censorship in the digital space.
“President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects violations of American sovereignty. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting American speech is no exception. The State Department stands ready and willing to expand today’s list if other foreign actors do not reverse course,” Rubio was quoted as saying by the State Department’s press service.
The names of the individuals subject to the restrictions have not been officially disclosed. At the same time, US authorities stress that these steps are intended to send a signal to other governments and organizations that pressure on freedom of speech and on American companies is unacceptable.
As is known, the US is implementing a stricter visa policy. For example, the Trump administration ordered US diplomatic missions to speed up visa issuance for foreigners traveling to major sporting events or planning significant investments.
At the same time, it was reported on December 5 that new, tougher criteria are being introduced for H-1B applicants (temporary work visas), related to online censorship. More details can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.
