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Trump orders visa rejection for factcheckers and 'censors'
The Observer
|December 07, 2025
Donald Trump's administration has directed embassy officials to reject visa applicants if they have worked as factcheckers or in roles challenging disinformation.
Other banned fields include content moderation, compliance and online safety - jobs that may include those tackling online child sexual abuse or antisemitism - in an apparent attempt to enforce censorship of people outside the US.
UK officials and workers enforcing the Online Safety Act 2023, which allows Ofcom to fine social media companies for breaches such as cyberflashing, promoting self-harm, or racial abuse, face being barred from the US under the policy.
This story is from the December 07, 2025 edition of The Observer.
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