U.S. Bars Europeans Accused of Pressuring Tech Firms to Censor American Viewpoints Online

The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that it was barring five Europeans it accused of leading efforts to pressure U.S. tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints online. The move comes as part of a new visa policy aimed at countering what the State Department described as "radical" activism and "weaponized" nongovernmental organizations.

According to the State Department, the five Europeans in question are accused of using their influence to pressure tech firms to remove or restrict content that they deemed objectionable. The move has been met with criticism from some who argue that it is an attempt to stifle free speech and limit the ability of tech firms to moderate their platforms.

The State Department's announcement was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who characterized the Europeans as "radical" activists and "weaponized" nongovernmental organizations. Rubio stated that the U.S. would not tolerate attempts to pressure tech firms to censor American viewpoints and would take action to protect the free flow of information online.

The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration and limit the influence of foreign actors on U.S. tech firms. According to a report by the State Department, the five Europeans in question have been accused of using their influence to pressure tech firms to remove or restrict content that they deemed objectionable.

The five Europeans in question are not named in the State Department's announcement, but according to sources, they are accused of being involved in a number of high-profile campaigns to pressure tech firms to censor or restrict content. The campaigns in question include efforts to remove or restrict content related to climate change, immigration, and other social issues.

The move has been met with criticism from some who argue that it is an attempt to stifle free speech and limit the ability of tech firms to moderate their platforms. According to a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union, the move is "a clear attempt to silence critics of the administration's policies and to limit the ability of tech firms to moderate their platforms."

The current status of the five Europeans in question is unclear, but according to sources, they will be barred from entering the U.S. and will have their visas revoked. The move is seen as a significant escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on immigration and limit the influence of foreign actors on U.S. tech firms.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the State Department stated that the move was necessary to protect the free flow of information online and to prevent the spread of "radical" ideologies. The spokesperson stated that the U.S. would continue to take action to protect the free flow of information online and to prevent the spread of "radical" ideologies.

The next steps in this case are unclear, but according to sources, the State Department is expected to continue to take action to counter what it describes as "radical" activism and "weaponized" nongovernmental organizations. The move is seen as a significant escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on immigration and limit the influence of foreign actors on U.S. tech firms.

Sources:

The Associated Press, "U.S. bars Europeans it says pressured tech firms to censor American viewpoints online," December 24, 2025.
The Associated Press, "U.S. bars Europeans it says pressured tech firms to censor American viewpoints online," December 24, 2025.