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IFCN condemns US visa bans on fact-checkers, others

Nurudeen Akewushola
Nurudeen Akewushola
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United States of America President, Donald Trump
United States of America President, Donald Trump

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THE International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute has condemned the United States government’s recent decision to deny visas to individuals, including Fact-checkers, European public officials and civil society leaders, describing the move as a threat to free expression and democratic values.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the IFCN stated that the visa denials, reportedly including the blacklisting of individuals involved in information integrity and digital governance, amount to censorship and political retaliation.

The five Europeans named according to National Public Radio are: Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of HateAid, a German organisation; Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index; and former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, who was responsible for digital affairs.

The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the individuals as “radical” activists and “weaponised” nongovernmental organisations, which fell afoul of a new visa policy announced in May to restrict the entry of foreigners deemed responsible for censoring protected speech in the United States.

However, IFCN said those affected were being targeted for their professional roles in combating misinformation and upholding public access to credible information.

According to the IFCN, the individuals sanctioned include fact-checkers, researchers, and trust and safety professionals whose work aligns with laws enacted by democratic governments, including the European Union’s Digital Services Act.

The group stressed that their activities, ranging from exposing coordinated disinformation to defending the public’s right to reliable information, should not be construed as censorship or national security threats.

“The pursuit of accuracy is not a hostile act; it is a vital service to the public record,” the IFCN said, warning that portraying fact-checkers and researchers as security risks mirrors tactics commonly used by authoritarian regimes to suppress independent media.

The organisation said it is conducting a formal assessment of how the visa restrictions affect the ability of fact-checking journalists and researchers to work without fear of political retaliation.

It also announced plans to expand legal and safety support for fact-checkers facing harassment or unwarranted scrutiny as a result of their work.

Calling for an immediate reversal of the policy, the IFCN urged the U.S. government to uphold free expression by protecting those committed to facts, transparency, and the rule of law, noting that democratic societies depend on the ability of independent professionals to operate without intimidation.

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Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.

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