The Trump administration faces accusations of an “authoritarian attack” following visa sanctions imposed on five Europeans, including a former Labour adviser. Imran Ahmed, linked to Keir Starmer’s top aide Morgan McSweeney, was singled out by the US for his involvement with the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). The CCDH, led by Ahmed, is known for supporting regulatory measures such as the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act, which aim to enhance censorship globally.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Mr. Ahmed and four others of pressuring American platforms to suppress viewpoints they oppose, resulting in their exclusion from the US. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security could initiate deportation proceedings against these individuals. Mr. Ahmed, who founded CCDH while working as an advisor to Labour MP Hilary Benn, was driven by concerns over antisemitism and the murder of Jo Cox MP by a white supremacist.
Elon Musk previously labeled CCDH as a “criminal organization,” sparking a commitment from Mr. Ahmed to persist in their efforts. The CCDH’s mission revolves around safeguarding human rights and civil liberties online by holding social media companies accountable for spreading hate and misinformation. Additionally, Clare Melford, head of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also targeted by the visa sanctions, with the GDI condemning the move as an assault on free speech and government censorship.
In response, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller urged the UK government to advocate for its citizens impacted by the sanctions. A UK Government representative emphasized the importance of free speech while supporting measures to combat harmful online content, such as child exploitation, incitement of violence, and dissemination of fake news.