The US will no longer give visas for foreign officials who “censure” Americans on social networks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Photo: Mehmet Eser / Zuma / Splashnews.com / Splash / Profimedia
Washington announced on Wednesday new restrictions on the granting of visas to foreign officials that “censure” Americans on social networks, reports AFP and Reuters, DDE Agerpres.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio – which some accuse of revoking the visas of people who criticized Israel – claimed the existence of “flagrant censorship” actions abroad against some American companies.
Rubio did not give name, but last week indicated the judge of the Brazilian Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes, who opposed Elon Musk, temporarily blocking his social network in Brazil in 2024.
Donald Trump's administration-he himself a great fan of social networks-has also accused his German and British allies of limiting access to certain speeches that these two countries have qualified as promoting hatred, AFP mentions.
On Wednesday, Marco Rubio announced, as reprisals, “a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign and persons who are complicated in the censorship of Americans. Freedom of expression is essential for the American way of life – a birth right over which foreign governments have no authority.”
“We will not tolerate any violation of American sovereignty, especially when it violates our fundamental right to freedom of expression,” he stressed.
The Secretary of State said that he has already revoked the visas of thousands of people, mostly students who protested against the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
