Foreigners wanting to enter the United States may soon be asked to provide their social media accounts before entering customs!
The US Waiver Program which allows citizens of certain countries to visit the US for 90 days visa-less now has an “optional” field in their Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program. This field is a request for applicants’ social media accounts.
The field was proposed this past June by US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and the form reads: “Please enter information associated with your online presence.” The CPB says the goal of the operation is to possibly identify terrorist threats by “collecting social media data will enhance the existing investigative process and provide DHS greater clarity and visibility to possible nefarious activity and connections.” More here.
