In late May, the State Department issued a pair of cables that rightly invited substantial media attention. The cables are the latest in a series of vague Trump administration directives that are ostensibly intended to combat antisemitism – a worthy goal – but will inevitably chill or punish First Amendment-protected speech. The first cable imposed a pause on all new visa interviews for international students until the department could issue guidance on social media vetting. The second directed consular officers to closely scrutinize the social media of all applicants seeking a visa to study, teach, or speak at Harvard University, with a particular focus on antisemitism and antisemitic viewpoints. The cables were not disseminated in isolation. Instead, they are part of a broader, government-wide effort that threatens the right to free speech.
DHS’s New Social Media Vetting Policies Threaten Free Speech
