Kathmandu: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a new visa policy targeting foreign officials who censor American citizens' posts on social media. The announcement comes amid growing global tensions over freedom of expression and the influence of U.S. technology platforms.

Rubio, who has recently faced criticism for revoking visas of human rights activists critical of Israel, framed the new move as a defense of free speech and U.S. sovereignty. He emphasized that foreign authorities have no jurisdiction over Americans expressing opinions on U.S.-based platforms while inside U.S. territory.

In a statement, Rubio said, “The United States will begin imposing visa restrictions on foreign nationals responsible for censorship of expression protected in the country.” He added that it is unacceptable for foreign officials to pressure American tech companies into adopting global content control policies or engage in any form of censorship beyond their legal authority.

While no specific officials were named, Rubio last week hinted at potential action against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He also noted that former President Donald Trump's administration had raised concerns about censorship practices in Germany and the UK, both close U.S. allies.

Rubio warned, “We will not tolerate encroachments on American sovereignty that undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to freedom of expression.”

The Secretary of State also defended recent controversial visa revocations, citing the example of Rumesa Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, whose visa was reportedly revoked after she published an article criticizing conditions in Gaza’s schools. Rubio said the U.S. government retains the right to revoke visas in such cases.

This policy marks a sharp turn in U.S. diplomatic posture, signaling that digital free speech protections will increasingly factor into international relations and visa decisions. The statement did not specify when the new restrictions would take effect or how enforcement will be implemented.