State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'

The U.S. State Department is set to reject visa applications from individuals who have engaged in fact-checking or content moderation, labeling such actions as "censorship" of speech. The directive targets H-1B visa applicants, commonly used in the tech sector. It instructs consular officers to scrutinize applicants' work histories for involvement in activities against misinformation.

The memo echoes a prior policy by Secretary of State Marco Rubio aimed at those complicit in censoring Americans. Critics argue this undermines free speech protections, noting that content moderation serves to protect, not censor. The State Department defends the measure as a safeguard against foreign censorship.