Social media histories and email accounts could become part of travel to the U.S., according to a notice published this week in the Federal Register.
According to multiple media reports, foreigners allowed to come to the United States without a visa could be required to submit information about their social media, email accounts and extensive family history to the Department of Homeland Security before being approved for travel.
The notice said Customs and Border Protection wants to collect five years’ worth of social media information from travelers from select countries who do not have to get visas to come to the U.S.
The proposal to collect five years’ worth of social media information from travelers from select countries who do not have to get visas to come to the U.S. comes from Customs and Border Protection. The announcement refers to travelers from more than three dozen countries who take part in the Visa Waiver Program and submit their information to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which automatically screens them and then approves them for travel to the U.S. Unlike visa applicants, they generally do not have to go into an embassy or consulate for an interview, according to The Associated Press report.
DHS administers the program, which currently allows citizens of roughly 40 mostly European and Asian countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for three months without visas.
The announcement also said that CBP would start requesting a list of other information, including telephone numbers the person has used over the past five years or email addresses used over the past decade. The applications now used by these travelers is more limited.
At a White House event, President Donald Trump was asked if he was concerned such a policy would hurt tourism, Trump said no.
“We want safety, we want security, we want to make sure we’re not letting the wrong people come into our country,” Trump said, according to the AP report.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed changes before they go into effect, the notice said.
Original source: https://www.corpmagazine.com/featured/foreigners-traveling-without-visas-could-be-subject-to-social-media-scrutiny/
