The Trump administration has faced allegations of an “authoritarian assault” for imposing visa sanctions on five Europeans, including a former Labour adviser. Imran Ahmed, an associate of Keir Starmer’s top aide, Morgan McSweeney, was recently targeted by the US for his involvement with the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Previously associated with the Labour Party in Manchester, Ahmed now serves as the CEO of CCDH.
US Under-Secretary of State Sarah Rodgers accused CCDH of backing the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act to enhance censorship globally. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, identified Mr. Ahmed and four others as leaders pressuring American platforms to censor viewpoints they disagree with, resulting in their ban from entering the United States.
In response, Mr. Rubio mentioned the possibility of initiating deportation proceedings against certain individuals based on foreign policy determinations. Mr. Ahmed, recounting the CCDH’s origins, attributed its formation to his time advising Labour MP Hilary Benn and witnessing antisemitism in the UK, along with the tragic murder of Jo Cox MP by a white supremacist.
Elon Musk previously criticized CCDH, calling it a “criminal organization,” prompting CCDH to reaffirm its commitment to defending human rights and civil liberties online. The organization holds social media companies accountable for enabling hate speech and misinformation, advocating for change to protect communities.
Clare Melford, who oversees the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), was also among those sanctioned by the US. The GDI condemned the visa sanctions as an attack on free speech, labeling the Trump administration’s actions as immoral and undemocratic. Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, urged the UK government to speak out against the sanctions, emphasizing the importance of defending citizens’ rights while combatting harmful online content.
