THE INTERNATIONAL FACT-CHECKING Network has said it’s “deeply concerned” by reports that the US State Department instructed staff to deny visas to people who have worked in fact-checking and content moderation.

“This work strengthens public debate — it does not censor it,” the organisation said in a statement.

“It is protected within the United States by the First Amendment (of the Constitution), and the U.S. has long supported similar press freedoms internationally.”

The Journal is a member of the IFCN.

The statement issued yesterday came days after the State Department reportedly sent a memo instructing staff vetting H-1B visas for highly skilled workers to reject applicants involved in the “censorship” of free speech.

The memo reportedly directs consular officers to explore applicants’ work histories for activities such as combatting misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking and trust and safety.

State Department officials have not denied the existence of the memo.

The IFCN said it was “troubled” by the implications of the memo for those whose work “protects children from exploitation, prevents fraud and scams, and combats coordinated harassment.”

“A free press and an informed public are foundational to democracy,” the group added.

“Policies that treat the pursuit of accuracy as a disqualifying activity send a chilling message to journalists and others worldwide.”

- © AFP 2025