The Trump administration just dealt a massive blow to tech's content moderation workforce. A leaked State Department cable instructs consulates to reject H1-B visa applications from anyone with a history in content moderation, fact-checking, or AI safety - directly targeting skilled workers at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon who keep platforms running.
The Trump administration just weaponized immigration policy against Silicon Valley's content moderation army. A confidential State Department cable obtained by Reuters reveals consulates worldwide have been instructed to screen H1-B applicants for any history involving content moderation, fact-checking, online safety, compliance, or misinformation work.
The directive specifically targets workers at social media and financial services companies involved in what the administration calls "suppression of protected expression." That puts thousands of skilled workers at Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta directly in the crosshairs - companies that collectively employ tens of thousands of H1-B visa holders in trust and safety roles.
"If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible," the cable instructs, according to Reuters. "You must thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure no participation in such activities."
The policy represents a dramatic escalation of Trump's ongoing war against what he views as tech censorship. It's also the latest salvo in his broader immigration crackdown that began with social media screening for student visas and the controversial $100,000 H1-B application fee that sent shockwaves through the tech industry.
The timing couldn't be worse for tech companies already struggling with AI governance and content moderation at scale. Meta alone employs thousands in content policy roles, while Google's YouTube and Search teams rely heavily on international talent for AI safety research. Microsoft's responsible AI initiatives and 's content moderation for AWS services could face immediate talent shortages.
