The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday it was barring five Europeans it accused of leading efforts to pressure U.S. tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints. The move comes under a new visa policy announced in May to restrict the entry of foreigners deemed responsible for censorship of protected speech in the United States.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the five Europeans in question are "radical" activists and "weaponized" nongovernmental organizations that have been involved in organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. Rubio stated, "For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship." Rubio made the comments on X, a social media platform.

The five individuals barred from entry into the United States include three activists and two representatives of nongovernmental organizations. The State Department did not release the names of the individuals, citing security concerns. The visa policy, announced in May, aims to restrict the entry of foreigners deemed responsible for censorship of protected speech in the United States.

The move is seen as a response to growing concerns about the influence of foreign actors on American social media platforms. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of foreign governments and organizations attempting to manipulate public opinion on social media. The Trump Administration has been vocal about its concerns regarding the spread of misinformation and the impact of foreign interference on American democracy.

Industry experts say the move could have significant implications for the tech industry. "This move sends a clear signal that the U.S. government is taking a hard line on foreign interference in American social media," said Emily Chen, a technology policy expert at the Brookings Institution. "It's likely to have a chilling effect on the activities of foreign actors, but it also raises questions about the limits of government intervention in the tech industry."

The current status of the visa policy is unclear, but officials say it will continue to be enforced. The State Department has not released any further information on the individuals barred from entry or the specific activities they were involved in. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the tech industry and foreign governments will respond to the new visa policy.

In a statement, the White House said the move was part of a broader effort to protect American democracy from foreign interference. "The Trump Administration is committed to protecting the free flow of information and preventing foreign actors from manipulating public opinion," said a spokesperson. "This move is an important step in that effort."