US asks visa applicants for social media handles

VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian president WASHINGTON: The United States has begun asking some would-be visitors applying for visas to provide their identities on social media, among other more vigorous screening methods.

A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said new security procedures went into effect on May 25 for travellers deemed to present a risk.

The plan raised concerns of civil liberties advocates, who fear travellers who pose no terrorist threat might be stigmatised for their political or religious views.

It also came at a time of controversy over another new measure — President Donald Trump’s attempt to ban travellers from six mainly-Muslim countries.

According to the US official, consular officers could now demand extra information from applicants they deem to require “more rigorous national security vetting”.

“Such visa applicants will be asked to provide additional information, including their social media handles, prior passport numbers, additional information about family members, and a longer history of past travel, employment, and contact information,” she said.

Nevertheless, she added, these changes would “affect only a fraction of one percent of the more than 13 million annual visa applicants worldwide”.

There was no suggestion that travellers would have to surrender passwords to their accounts.

But if they have, for example, posted suspect material on Facebook or “followed” an extremist account on Twitter or Instagram, they may face additional questions. AFP