Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP and chair of Parliament's technology select committee, has accused the Trump administration of undermining free speech after the United States imposed visa sanctions on two British anti-disinformation campaigners.
The sanctions, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, target five Europeans including Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), and Clare Melford, head of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI). Both organisations have clashed with Elon Musk, the owner of X.
Ms Onwurah said banning people for their views contradicted the administration's stated commitment to free speech. She praised Mr Ahmed, who previously gave evidence to her committee's inquiry into social media and harmful content, as an "articulate advocate" for greater regulation.
Mr Rubio accused the five of leading "organised efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetise and suppress American viewpoints they oppose." The GDI called the move "an authoritarian attack on free speech" while the UK government said it supported laws working to keep the internet free from harmful content.
French President Emmanuel Macron and the European Commission strongly condemned the sanctions. Jonathan Hall, the UK's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, warned of a "massive chilling effect". Campaigners also cautioned that Britain could be the next target due to its Online Safety Act, after US officials raised concerns with Ofcom.
