State Department Visa Policy Sparks Concern Among Fact-Checking Organizations

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) has expressed deep concern over reports that the U.S. State Department has instructed staff to deny visas to individuals with backgrounds in fact-checking and content moderation.

“This work strengthens public debate – it does not censor it,” the organization stated firmly. “It is protected within the United States by the First Amendment, and the U.S. has long supported similar press freedoms internationally.”

The IFCN’s statement, released Tuesday, responds to a recently reported State Department memo that directs consular officers processing H-1B visas for highly skilled workers to reject applicants who have engaged in what the department characterizes as “censorship” of free speech.

According to reports, the controversial memo specifically instructs officials to scrutinize applicants’ work histories for activities including combating misinformation and disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, and trust and safety operations. So far, State Department officials have not denied the existence of such instructions.

The H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, has been a critical pathway for skilled professionals in the tech industry, including those working on digital platform safety.

The IFCN, whose members include prominent news organization AFP, expressed particular concern about the implications for professionals whose work “protects children from exploitation, prevents fraud and scams, and combats coordinated harassment.”

This policy shift comes amid growing tensions between government entities and social media platforms over content moderation practices. In recent years, there has been intense debate about the balance between free speech and the need to curb harmful content online, with technology companies facing pressure from various political perspectives.

Content moderation and fact-checking have become increasingly professionalized fields, employing thousands of specialists globally who work to verify information, assess potentially harmful content, and enforce platform policies. Many of these professionals hold advanced degrees in journalism, communications, and information sciences.

Media experts warn that characterizing such work as “censorship” misrepresents its function and purpose. Fact-checking organizations typically publish transparent methodologies and provide evidence for their determinations, allowing readers to evaluate their conclusions independently.

“A free press and an informed public are foundational to democracy,” the IFCN emphasized in its statement. “Policies that treat the pursuit of accuracy as a disqualifying activity send a chilling message to journalists and others worldwide.”

The visa directive could have significant implications for U.S. technology companies and news organizations that rely on international talent pools to fill specialized roles in content verification and digital safety. Many leading fact-checking operations maintain global teams to address multilingual content and cultural contexts.

Press freedom advocates note that the U.S. has historically positioned itself as a global defender of journalistic freedom and information integrity. This apparent policy shift risks undermining that leadership position, particularly at a time when many countries are developing their own approaches to managing online information ecosystems.

The directive also comes during an election year in which misinformation concerns are heightened, raising questions about the timing and motivations behind the policy change.

As the situation develops, journalism organizations and technology companies will likely monitor how broadly the policy is implemented and whether it significantly impacts their ability to recruit international talent for roles critical to maintaining information quality and platform safety.