A US judge has issued a temporary restraining order, blocking US authorities from detaining or deporting British anti-disinformation campaigner Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Ahmed, who lives lawfully in Washington DC with his American wife and daughter, filed a complaint on Thursday against senior Trump allies, including the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and attorney general Pam Bondi, challenging what he described as an unconstitutional arrest and removal. Judge Vernon S Broderick of the southern district of New York granted Ahmed's request, ensuring his case can be heard before any removal attempt.

Ahmed is one of five European nationals targeted by the Trump administration and the US State Department in the past week. These individuals have been accused of leading organized efforts to pressure technology firms to censor, demonetize, or suppress American viewpoints they oppose. Marco Rubio, in particular, accused the five, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, of such actions. Sarah Rogers, a State Department official, explicitly stated on X: "Our message is clear: if you spend your career fomenting censorship of American speech, you’re unwelcome on American soil."

The sanctions are widely perceived as the latest offensive against European regulations designed to combat hate speech and misinformation. Campaigners in the UK have expressed concerns that the British government could face further targeting if the Trump administration escalates its attacks on tech regulation. Ahmed's legal counsel, Roberta Kaplan, affirmed the State Department’s actions as "unjustified and blatantly unconstitutional," while Ahmed himself expressed confidence that his First Amendment rights would be upheld by the court.

Imran Ahmed has consistently maintained that his life’s work focuses on protecting children from the dangers of unregulated social media and AI, and fighting the spread of antisemitism online. This mission has frequently placed him in opposition to major tech executives, most notably Elon Musk, owner of X. The CCDH previously incurred Musk's wrath over reports detailing the increase of racist, antisemitic, and extremist content on X following his acquisition of the platform. Musk unsuccessfully attempted to sue the CCDH last year, subsequently labeling it a "criminal organisation."

Ahmed views the current targeting as another tactic by tech companies, which he describes as arrogant and "sociopathic," to deflect accountability and transparency. He emphasized, "This has never been about politics," noting that his organization had previously worked successfully with the first Trump administration and would do so again if requested. He argues that the issue stems from companies unwilling to be held accountable, leveraging significant financial influence in Washington to corrupt the system and bend it to their will. Ahmed highlighted the unique arrogance and indifference of this industry "at the expense of people."

Beyond Ahmed, the State Department also targeted Clare Melford, based in the UK and head of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), which Musk has also called to be shut down for its criticism of rightwing websites spreading disinformation. The CCDH's recent work includes a report warning about harmful answers generated by the latest version of ChatGPT when prompted on sensitive topics like suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders, further illustrating their ongoing scrutiny of tech platforms.

The personal toll of this legal battle has been significant for Ahmed, who spent Christmas away from his wife and infant daughter. He reflected on the emotional cost, stating, "The only time I felt any sadness at all is last night when my wife told me that our child said her sixth word, and then I cried a bit." Despite these personal sacrifices, he remains resolute in his commitment to holding the world's biggest companies accountable and speaking truth to power, understanding the inherent cost. Ahmed also noted the bipartisan nature of concerns regarding hate speech and misinformation, asserting that he was ready with a swift legal response upon hearing the news.