2017-02-09
Visitors to US might be required to 'voluntarily' share their social media accounts information.

According to New York Times, visitors to the US might be required to share the passwords of their Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts, in order to help screen ties to terrorism. While president Trump would definitely love it, the proposal was made already a year ago.

"Collecting social media data will enhance the existing investigative process and provide D.H.S. greater clarity and visibility to possible nefarious activity," was said by the border agency.

And when talking about the voluntary part of it, Republican representative Vern Buchanan, said that "If we want to win on the digital battlefield, mandatory screening is required."

While nothing has happened on this front since the announcement of such proposal, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Tuesday (Feb 7th, 2017) that "we're looking at some enhanced or some additional screening. We may want to get on their social media, with passwords. It's very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries. But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet. These are the things we are thinking about. But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line."