The Trump administration has reportedly instructed U.S. consulates to consider rejecting H-1B visa applicants involved in content moderation, as highlighted in a report by Reuters. A State Department cable indicates that officials should review applicants’ resumes or LinkedIn profiles for any history related to moderation, fact-checking, online safety, compliance, or misinformation.
According to the cable, this directive applies broadly to all visa applicants but specifically targets those who have worked in “social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression.” Many technology firms, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, employ skilled workers through H-1B visas.
The cable stipulates that if evidence is found indicating an applicant’s responsibility for or complicity in censorship regarding protected expression in the U.S., officials should consider the applicant ineligible. It emphasizes a thorough investigation into their employment histories to confirm non-participation in such activities.
In response to these developments, Carrie DeCell, a senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, criticized the policy, stating that individuals involved in misinformation studies or content moderation are participating in activities that the First Amendment is designed to protect. She described the policy as incoherent and possibly unconstitutional.
When questioned about the new immigration vetting process, a State Department spokesperson stated that the agency does not comment on “allegedly leaked documents” but added that it does not endorse foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to function as censors suppressing American expression. The State Department has not provided further comment in response to other inquiries.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/838489/trump-admin-h1b-visas-content-moderation