The United States has barred entry to two prominent British campaigners who lead organisations combating online misinformation and hate speech, labelling them "radical activists" in a significant escalation of a transatlantic dispute over digital censorship and free speech.
Who Has Been Banned and Why?
Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), and Clare Melford, CEO of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), are the two Britons denied US visas. They were among five Europeans targeted, including the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and two senior figures from the German non-profit HateAid.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the individuals of leading "organised efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetise, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose." The Trump administration contends their work advances "censorship crackdowns by foreign states" that target American speakers and companies.
This action is part of a broader US campaign against European digital regulations, specifically the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to police harmful online content but which Washington argues stifles free expression and burdens tech firms.
International Condemnation and UK Response
The move has drawn sharp criticism from European allies. A UK government spokesperson stated that while every nation sets its own visa rules, Britain is "fully committed to upholding the right to free speech." The spokesperson added that social media should not be used to spread child abuse material, incite violence, or disseminate fake information for malicious purposes.
The European Commission "strongly condemns" the decision, asserting that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and a shared democratic value. French President Emmanuel Macron called the bans a form of "intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty." Germany's justice ministry expressed its "support and solidarity" for its affected citizens, stating the bans were unacceptable and that describing their work as censorship misrepresents Germany's constitutional system.
Significant Political and Personal Repercussions
The bans carry immediate consequences, particularly for Imran Ahmed. He is reportedly based in the CCDH's Washington office and now faces deportation from the United States. Ahmed is a former aide to Labour minister Hilary Benn and has close ties to the current Labour leadership; Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, served as a director at CCDH until 2020.
Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, described the US imposition of sanctions as a "significant move," noting they are typically reserved for serious foreign policy matters where a country feels its interests are severely threatened.
The dispute underscores a deep and growing transatlantic rift over how to govern the digital world, pitting American free speech absolutism against European efforts to legislate against online harms.
