U.S. Bars Anti-Hate Researcher, Judge Reverses Travel Ban

A U.S. judge has ordered the release of a British researcher detained at the airport, overturning a government ban that labeled him a threat to free speech. Imran Ahmed, founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), was stopped upon arriving in Washington, D.C. The State Department had revoked his travel permit, claiming he promotes censorship. Ahmed’s organization researches online hate speech and disinformation. He was one of five Europeans barred under a U.S. policy that denies entry to foreigners believed to have been involved in “unlawful suppression” of speech. The judge’s ruling allows Ahmed to enter the country for now. The CCDH publishes frequent reports on misinformation, often targeting major social media platforms. The U.S. government did not provide specific evidence to support its claim against Ahmed in the initial hearing.