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US to deny visas to fact checkers and others over ‘censorship’

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 United States government has introduced a new policy that will see H-1B visa applicants denied entry if they have worked in fact-checking, content moderation or online safety — fields considered crucial in combating misinformation.

Reuters reported on Thursday that an internal memo issued by the US State Department directed consular officers worldwide to scrutinise applicants’ past roles for any involvement in what Washington now describes as “censorship” of free speech in the US.

The directive, dated December 2, also instructs visa officers to review LinkedIn profiles and résumés of applicants and their accompanying family members to determine whether they have worked in fact-checking, compliance, moderation or misinformation-related roles.

“If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible,” the memo read, according to Reuters.

READ : Trump affirms plan to sue BBC for $1 Billion over edited speech

The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers, particularly in technology, engineering, healthcare and research. It is typically issued for three years and renewable for up to six.

The new policy comes amid the Trump administration’s tightening of US immigration rules since the President returned to office. Over the past year, the government has reinstated selective travel bans, raised visa fees, reduced access to interview waivers and expanded social-media screening for applicants.

Reuters reports that the stricter checks will apply to both first-time H-1B applicants and those seeking renewals.

“You must thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure no participation in such activities,” the memo further said.

President Trump, who was frequently fact-checked during his previous term, has pushed social-media companies to roll back fact-checking and moderation features. Facebook, which previously partnered with fact-checkers to curb fake news, also halted such initiatives.

“In the past, the President himself was the victim of this kind of abuse when social media companies locked his accounts. He does not want other Americans to suffer this way. Allowing foreigners to lead this type of censorship would both insult and injure the American people,” an official told Reuters.

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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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