State Department will now require all visa applicants to provide social media accounts as Trump's...

[Soph0571]

...'extreme vetting' process finally takes effect

The State Department is now requiring nearly all applicants for U.S. visas to submit their social media usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers.

It's a vast expansion of the Trump administration's enhanced screening of potential immigrants and visitors, which President Donald Trump has referred to for years as 'extreme vetting'.

In a move that's just taken effect after approval of the revised application forms, the department says it has updated its immigrant and nonimmigrant visa forms to request the additional information, including 'social media identifiers,' from almost all U.S. applicants.

The change, which was proposed in March 2018, is expected to affect about 15 million foreigners who apply for visas to enter the United States each year.

[link:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7094161/US-seeking-social-media-details-visa-applicants.html|

Yet another reason why I will not be visiting my house in the US anytime soon... Even if I was not doing my own mini boycott, one link at my DU account and I would be banned for a decade!!!

[Captain Zero]

1. And how long before we need one to get a passport?

Just seems this could be used to inure us to the trampling of our rights down the road.

[Soph0571]

2. I think that it will happen any minute now

They know no bounds... only the 'worthy' will get to travel

[RKP5637]

6. ... or to even vote. Americans are far too passive and aloof. Their country is slipping away and

by the way they vote, or choose not to vote, it seems many just don't care. As some of my friends have said, America had a good run of it after WWII, but over the years, especially since the mid-eighties, has been going downhill.

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. People coming from Canada are asked if they have ever used pot

which is legal in Canada, and a yes answer will get you blocked from entry.

Anyone who might run into border guards would be wise to have a burner cell phone and no puters on them.

There was a harrowing account by a journalist who recently got stopped going into Mexico at the Tijuana crossing, hauled out of his car, by OUR Border Patrol, intensely searched, they took his wallet and his driver's license, a Border guard took a picture of his driver's license with the the guard's own cellphone, he was interrogated rudely about what he was writing about in Mexico, who was he seeing, where, etc.
the reporter said he was shaking with rage by the time they let him go, but also shock that they can do this.

We have an American friend who visits us. Lives most of the time in Mexico. He flies into Houston from Mexico, picks up a rental car, drives east on I-10.
He was here in Feb. this year, and reported that as he passed a rest stop, a cop pulled him over ( rental car tags are suspicious to them) and the minute he showed his Mexico drivers license, the cop hit the radio and within 5 minutes 2 border Patrol vehicles showed up...they had been in the rest stop.
They demanded to know about any drugs, ignored his answers, searched the car including removing the back seats, and were not polite.
Our friend is well over 60, fortunately is is also very smart, so knew to downplay any outraged.
also was smart enough to not call attention to the vape pen in his shirt pocket, which they had ignored.

the minute I heard of bush's Homeland Security, and imposing TSA on us, it was obvious how this creeping eroding of privacy would end up.
It won't be just foreigners who have to give up all their social media information.

This IS how democracy erodes.

[fescuerescue]

22. I wish Obama had fixed TSA and Homeland security

when he had the chance with the house and Senate locked down.

I was angry when Bush did all that and saddened when it was renewed.

This crap makes me so angry when I think about it.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. WTF? I didn't see anything about this on State's visa pages, but maybe they...

just slip it in there when you apply.

[Soph0571]

4. I would imagine if I was planning to apply for an ESTA 2 year visa..

..the process has changed.

[RKP5637]

5. The way tRump is taking the US, no worry, none will ever want to come to the US for anything.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. We're living in crazy town now.

[crazytown]

14. Looks around my apartment,

oh hell no!

[Baitball Blogger]

19. LOL!

[Iliyah]

8. I don't see how this is legal.

[Soph0571]

9. Very little of what the fucker does is legal, however... n/t

[Voltaire2]

11. People outside the US who are not citizens

have no constitutional protections. See gitmo.

[Mme. Defarge]

13. Will there not be a court challenge?

[SCantiGOP]

10. Serious question

Concerning having to disclose your social media data, which has also been discussed pertaining to job applicants and criminal suspects, and now visa requests — why not just deny having it? How could anyone tell?
As an example, I dont have a Facebook or twitter account.

[Soph0571]

12. Well they will just take your phone and tablet at the border....

....if you refuse to give your passwords they will just kick you out. That is my take on it

[SCantiGOP]

15. So, leave your phone

And get a cheap temporary one when you get here.
Or delete the apps, and reset your phone so user names and passwords aren’t in it.
Maybe I’m missing something.

[Soph0571]

17. Seriously? Why should I have to?

Why should anyone have to?

[SCantiGOP]

18. I'm saying you could do this to avoid

Giving access to your accounts when applying for a visa if you knew that info was going to cause you a problem.

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. exactly what I have said.because I am a realist.

As much as I would like things to be different, at the moment this is what is happening.
If I need to use the border crossing, then the objective is to get past the bullies in the quickest way possible.

Mail your phone and /or computer to your destination. Use a burner in between.

Vote Democrat when the time comes, and hope every voting citizen who was mauled, insulted, offended at the border will do the same.

[DeminPennswoods]

16. Of course no will lie or omit information

when filling out an application...

[Moral Compass]

20. Just another brick in the wall

If Trump wins another term or refuses to step down our government will be monitoring online activity and may start acting on it. It won’t be remotely constitutional but what is this it administration doing right now that is remotely constitutional?

The Justice Department is refusing to comply with a valid court order. Wrap your head around that for a minute.

I think there is no choice but to impeach.

[moondust]

24. Copying the Chinese?

Last edited Sun Jun 2, 2019, 01:46 AM - Edit history (1)

~
The Social Credit System is a national reputation system being developed by the Chinese government. By 2020, it is intended to standardise the assessment of citizens' and businesses' economic and social reputation, or 'Social Credit'.
~
The system is considered a form of mass surveillance.
~
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System

ETA: Could lead to mass surveillance. May also be used to screen immigrants according to their political leanings.

[nitpicker]

25. Link ti BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48486672

[malaise]

26. Soon they will require Americans do the same

for their passports.
This is an invasion of privacy