Overview
- The International Fact-Checking Network says the State Department instructed consular officers to deny visas to applicants with backgrounds in fact-checking, content moderation, and trust and safety roles.
- The group maintains that fact-checking is journalism protected by the First Amendment and rejects any conflation of this work with censorship.
- IFCN notes a global network of more than 170 organizations in over 80 countries that commit to nonpartisanship, source transparency, and prompt corrections.
- The statement cautions that curbing visas for trust and safety professionals could weaken efforts to protect children, prevent fraud and scams, and counter coordinated harassment.
- Media reports describe a memo directing staff reviewing H‑1B applications to reject candidates linked to censorship-related activities, with officials not denying its existence and no public State Department confirmation or explanation yet.