Most applicants for a US visa will now need to submit social media details under newly adopted rules.
The US State Department regulations now state that selected applicants will need to submit 5 years worth of email addresses and phone numbers, alongside their social media names.
These new rules are estimated to affect 14.7 million people per year.
Despite the checks not being required on certain diplomatic bodies, for the anyone traveling to the US for work or study.
Isn’t this a breach of privacy?
The US State Department reportedly said:
“We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect US citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States”
Prior to now it was only high risk groups which had to submit this type of data for visa approval.
Now though most applicants will be requested to give all social media names of the sites required and any others which have not been listed by the US State Department.
Lying about any social media sites will be met with “serious immigration consequences”, according to US official
The Trump administration first proposed the rules in March 2018, at the time, the American Civil Liberties Union – a civil rights group – stated:
“no evidence that such social media monitoring is effective or fair”.
Will this prove a problem for social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin?
With the spotlight already on these silicon valley giants to protect user privacy, this could add further concerns to social media user base.
So will this be the end of social media trolls and abusive comments being passed back and forwards for those who wish to enter the US?
Well only time will tell.