Social media account information will give the government access to photos, locations, birth dates, milestones and other personal data often shared on social media by visa applicants. Declaring social media usage will help screen terrorists and other dangerous elements who want to immigrate to the US.
The new rules apply to most visa applicants, including temporary residents, who will be asked to provide their social media accounts in a drop-down menu, along with other personal information.
According to a representative of the US State Department, US visa applicants are also required to provide certain contact information such as: 5 phone numbers used in the past 5 years, email addresses, travel history, information about family members involved in terrorist activities, and previous residential addresses. "We are working to find mechanisms to improve our screening process to protect US citizens and support legitimate travel to the United States."
The move represents a step forward from a measure introduced in September 2017, in which the Department of Homeland Security proposed and issued a regulation calling for monitoring the social media use of all immigrants, including naturalized citizens. During the Obama administration, the State Department began requiring visa applicants to voluntarily submit their social media account information.
"The new regulations are an important step in strengthening and tightening the control of foreign citizens coming to the US," Hill TV quoted a US State Department official.
US visa applicants can declare that they do not use social media if it is true. "However, those who do not truthfully declare could face serious consequences," a US State Department official said.
Many people are concerned about the invasion of their personal privacy. This will also create a big psychological barrier for those who intend to immigrate to the land of the stars and stripes.
According to Stuff, about 14 million tourists and 710,000 immigrants enter the US each year. Therefore, screening of people entering the US will be carried out more strictly.
This new regulation stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March 2017. At that time, President Trump requested the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence to introduce a standardized screening system, which is part of an Executive Order entitled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States."
