Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
A US judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Trump administration from detaining Imran Ahmed, a British activist, after he challenged an entry ban related to accusations of online censorship. Ahmed, who leads the Center for Countering Digital Hate, is among five individuals denied US visas. The State Department claimed these individuals attempted to “coerce” technology companies into suppressing free speech.
This decision sparked criticism from European officials who support the work of groups that monitor content on the internet. Ahmed, a permanent resident in the US, expressed concerns that his detention and possible deportation would separate him from his American wife and child. He praised the court’s ruling and declared to the BBC that he would not be “bullied.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly stated that the visa blocks were due to suspicions these people had organized campaigns to pressure American tech platforms to restrict and “punish American viewpoints they oppose.” In response, Ahmed filed a lawsuit on Wednesday targeting Rubio, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and other officials responsible for his sanction.
On Thursday, US District Judge Vernon S. Broderick granted Ahmed’s request for a temporary restraining order, which also prevented officials from detaining him before his legal case could be reviewed. When contacted, a State Department representative affirmed that US law does not require the country to allow foreign nationals to enter or reside within its borders. Ahmed remains steadfast in his commitment, stating, “I will not be bullied away from my life’s work of fighting to keep children safe from social media’s harm and stopping antisemitism online.” His attorney, Roberta Kaplan, highlighted that the judge’s swift decision signaled the strength of their case, emphasizing that the government cannot deport a green card holder with American family members simply due to disagreement with his views. Notably, Ahmed’s organization faced a 2023 lawsuit from Elon Musk’s social media company, X, regarding reports linking the platform to increased hate speech since Musk’s acquisition. That case was dismissed, but an appeal is still in progress
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.