The US State Department has announced a new global visa restriction policy targeting people responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime.
The measures cover people involved in cyber scams and sextortion, among other offences. Restrictions on the issuance of US visas may also be applied to their immediate family members.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said online investment scams, often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organisations, defrauded US citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024.
The State Department said such networks fuel corruption, money laundering and human trafficking. It also said offenders operating overseas have specifically targeted American children in sextortion schemes.
Visa restrictions will be used alongside sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests and international law-enforcement cooperation.
