The United States government will now reject H-1B visa applications from individuals with experience in fact-checking, content moderation, or online safety, roles it links to “censorship” of free speech. Reuters reported that a 2 December memo ordered consular officers to screen applicants’ resumes and LinkedIn profiles, including those of accompanying family members and deny visas if they find evidence a person was “responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression.”
The directive affects new and renewal H-1B applications, marking a deepening of immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump. The memo instructed officers that “You must thoroughly explore their employment histories,” prioritising scrutiny of applicants tied to misinformation control. A State Department official suggested Mr Trump’s past fact-checking experiences influenced the policy. Supporters say moderation curbs misinformation, while critics argue it suppresses free speech.