IFCN expresses concern over reports of US visa denials for fact-checkers

“To conflate this work with censorship is to misunderstand what fact-checkers do, or to deliberately misrepresent it,” the IFCN said.

The network said it includes more than 170 organisations in over 80 countries, all committed to nonpartisanship, transparency of sources and prompt corrections. (File)

The International Fact-Checking Network Wednesday expressed deep concern over reports that the United States Department has instructed consular officers to deny visas to individuals who have worked in fact-checking, content moderation, and trust and safety roles.

In a statement, the IFCN said, “Fact-checking is journalism. It is the straightforward work of comparing public claims against the best available evidence and publishing the results for all to see. This work strengthens public debate — it does not censor it.” “It is protected within the United States by the First Amendment, and the US has long supported similar press freedoms internationally,” it added.

“To conflate this work with censorship is to misunderstand what fact-checkers do, or to deliberately misrepresent it,” the IFCN said.

The network said it includes more than 170 organisations in over 80 countries, all committed to nonpartisanship, transparency of sources and prompt corrections. It added that fact-checkers do not remove content but instead add verified information to the public record.

The IFCN also raised concern about the broader impact on trust and safety professionals, whose work it said helps protect children from exploitation, prevents fraud and scams, and combats coordinated online harassment. These functions, it said, make the internet safer for users, including Americans.

“Both content moderation by tech companies and journalistic fact-checking are exercises of freedom of expression,” the statement read.

The group warned that policies treating the pursuit of accuracy as a disqualifying activity could have a chilling effect on journalists and related professionals worldwide, undermining a free press and an informed public.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram