The UK government has publicly declared its commitment to the principle of free speech following a controversial move by the United States to bar several European campaigners, including a former Labour Party adviser, from entering the country.
Sanctions Target Anti-Disinformation Campaigners
Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), is among five European individuals sanctioned by the US State Department. The action, announced on Wednesday 24 December 2025, was justified by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused the group of leading "efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose."
Ahmed, who is from Manchester, has notable political connections, having previously worked as an adviser to Hilary Benn during his tenure as shadow foreign secretary. Benn is now the Northern Ireland Secretary. Furthermore, Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, was listed as a director at the CCDH before resigning in April 2020.
The sanctions form part of a broader Trump administration campaign against perceived foreign influence over online speech in the US, utilising immigration law rather than direct platform regulation.
UK and European Condemnation
In response to the travel bans, a UK Government spokesperson stated: "The UK is fully committed to upholding the right to free speech. While every country has the right to set its own visa rules, we support the laws and institutions which are working to keep the internet free from the most harmful content."
The move has drawn sharp criticism from across the European political spectrum. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the sanctions as "intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty." Similarly, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, labelled the US decision "unacceptable and an attempt to challenge our sovereignty."
In the UK, the Liberal Democrats accused the Trump administration of using "bullying tactics" against critics. The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Calum Miller, argued the sanctions were "an attack on free speech" and warned of potential US interference in European elections.
Significant Chilling Effect Feared
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 threats to foreign policy or world order. He warned that the action "will send a really massive chilling effect on everyone else who's discussing the subject at the moment."
The CCDH has been a prominent voice in campaigns against online hate and disinformation. In October 2024, tech billionaire Elon Musk declared "war" on the group, calling it a "criminal organisation." Ahmed has stated his motivation for founding the CCDH stemmed from witnessing the rise of antisemitism in UK politics and the murder of his colleague, Labour MP Jo Cox.
The other individuals barred from the US include Clare Melford of the Global Disinformation Index, former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon from the German non-profit HateAid. The Trump administration has indicated that further actions, potentially targeting serving politicians or officials, could follow.
