US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals who attempt to censor protected speech within the United States. The move aims to block those who threaten or take legal action against US citizens and residents over social media posts and to resist foreign demands for US tech companies to enforce global censorship rules.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States,” Marco Rubio said in a public statement.
“It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil.”
Pushback against global content demands
The new policy also addresses growing international pressure on US-based tech companies to comply with foreign content regulations.
“It is similarly unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States,” Rubio said.
“We will not tolerate encroachments upon American sovereignty,” Rubio stated, “especially when such encroachments undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to free speech.”
Signal to authoritarian regimes
Though Rubio did not name specific countries, the announcement is seen as a criticism to authoritarian regimes that have issued arrest warrants or initiated legal actions against dissidents and critics abroad, even when they reside in the United States.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates