(Adnkronos) – A group of foreign academics has sued the Trump administration, accusing it of violating their First Amendment right to freedom of expression. The lawsuit specifically refers to the measure, launched last year, which prevents the entry into the United States of communication and social media scholars who, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “are complicit in the censorship of Americans,” with studies advocating for moderation and the prohibition of extremist content on platforms.
“The work of the individuals and organizations targeted by this policy is not censorship; on the contrary, when independent researchers study platforms or express their views on content moderation policies, they are engaged in free expression that is protected by the First Amendment,” reads the lawsuit against the State Department and Department of Homeland Security filed by the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, along with the Knight First Amendment Institute and Protect Democracy.
“The Trump administration is using the threat of detention and deportation to suppress opinions unfavorable to it,” Carrie DeCell, a lawyer for one of the associations filing the lawsuit, told The Hill, emphasizing that “by targeting researchers and activists for their work in analyzing social media and exposing online dangers, this policy represses free expression.” – “A visa is a privilege, not a right; the United States has no obligation to admit or tolerate the presence of individuals who subvert our laws or deny our citizens their constitutional rights,” is the State Department’s reply.
