US To Deny Visas To Foreign Officials Who Try To Censor US Social Media Platforms

Public.News ^ | 5/28/25 | Michael Shellenberger

[EnderWiggin1970]

Since taking office, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken a series of actions to push back against growing foreign government demands to censor American citizens and American technology companies like Google, Meta, and X.

In April, Rubio shut down the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), which had funded censorship advocacy by the Global Disinformation Index, a UK-based NGO with ties to the Intelligence Community. Last week, Rubio said the administration was considering sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for his sweeping censorship edicts.

And on Monday, senior State Department officials traveled to France to raise their concerns about the lawfare against presidential front-runner, Marine Le Pen, and to Ireland to raise their concerns with the “Digital Services Act,” (DSA), the law that allows the EU to censor American citizens and American companies.

Now, the State Department has put in place a policy to deny visas to foreign nationals who are and were involved in the censorship of American citizens, companies, and foreigners in the United States, as well as to their immediate family members, under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

While a State Department official emphasized that this action only applies to a “target class” of visa applicants, and would not suggest any specific application of it, the new rules would allow it to deny a visa to Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Moraes, top DSA officials, their families, and hundreds if not thousands of other foreign officials worldwide.

[EnderWiggin1970]

“Obviously, we don’t love the idea of the Europeans censoring their own citizens,” Beattie told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, “but the principal concern is these spillover effects affecting content-moderation policies and a variety of free-speech concerns within the United States.

So there is an angle here where we are defending our own rights, even as we uphold the rights of people around the world. I hope Rubio & company follow through with this evenhandedly.

[TheDon]

I like.

[bunkerhill7]

Well-spoken

[9YearLurker]

How about holding up VISAs for participating at the UN? Maybe we could chase them out of here while we also withdraw.

[BobL]

“US To Deny Visas To Foreign Officials Who Try To Censor US Social Media Platforms”

Do it like they do with the Russians - also deny their FAMILIES access to the US.

[Navy Patriot]

US To Deny Visas To Foreign Officials Who Try To Censor US Social Media Platforms

The title of this is well worded for a quick understanding of the new US Policy, Thanks for posting, Wiggin!

[EnderWiggin1970]

It actually says that in the article, yes.

[BobL]

“It actually says that in the article, yes.”

Nice to hear, thanks!

[Openurmind]

Why? They would be right to kill BS propaganda media. Our country is the worst about truth...

[KC_Conspirator]

So do I.