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state Department It was announced Tuesday that she was indicting five Europeans accused of leading efforts to pressure American tech companies to censor or suppress American viewpoints.
Secretary of State marco rubio He did not name those he said were violating a new visa policy announced in May to restrict entry to foreigners deemed responsible for censorship of protected speech in the United States. He identified them only as “radical” activists and “armed” non-governmental organizations.
“For too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to force American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” Rubio posted on Twitter. “The Trump administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
The five Europeans were later identified by Sarah Rogers, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, in a series of posts on social media. They also include a former European Union Commissioners and leaders of organizations addressing digital hate.
Rubio’s statement said he escalated foreign government censorship campaigns against Americans and American companies, creating “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the US.
The action to ban them from the US is part of the Trump administration’s campaign against foreign influence on online speech, using immigration law rather than platform rules or restrictions.
The five named by Rogers are: Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of HateAid, a German organization; Former EU Commissioner Thierry Bretonwho was responsible for digital matters; and Claire Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, those targeted would generally be barred from entering the United States, and some could face removal proceedings if already in the country. Officials said the administration could expand the list if similar foreign actions continue.
Most Europeans fall under the visa waiver program, meaning they do not need a visa to enter the country. However, they are required to complete an online application before arrival under a system run by the Department of Homeland Security, so it is possible that at least some of these five people have been flagged for DHS, a US official said on condition of anonymity to discuss details not released publicly.
Other visa restriction policies were announced this year, as well as restrictions targeting foreign visitors from some African and Middle Eastern countries and the Palestinian Authority. Visitors from some countries may be required to post a financial bond when applying for a visa.
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Associated Press Diplomat Writer Matthew Lee Contributed to this report.