US Embassies to Ask Visa Applicants For Social Media Passwords: Reports

Accused of mass surveillance for several years, US is going to step it up by snooping on social media accounts of visa applicants.

According to the US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, US embassies could ask visa candidates for their social media accounts and their credentials in the future, all for the purpose of ‘undertaking background checks’.

To “Strengthen Inspection of Visitors”

Kelly also said the change could will’ help strengthen inspection of visitors’ by screening for any possible security risks. The move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s ban on immigrants, which has been rolled back after a US court struck it down.

According to Kelly, it was one of the efforts under consideration, particularly for people coming to US from 7 countries with a Muslim majority – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. According to the US security chief, these countries currently have very fragile background screening of their own.

Additional Screening Methods in The Works

Kelly stated at the hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee that U.S is looking at some enhanced or additional screening methods. Also, that they might want to get in the social media accounts of applicants with passwords.

He added:

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. If they don’t want to cooperate, then they don’t come into the United States.

Get Ready To Face More Delays

Kelly emphasized that no assessment had been made on this, but more rigid screening was definitely going to be implemented in the future, even if it means prolonged delays for awarding US visas to applicants.

These are the methods the United States of America is thinking about to ensure its security. Also, Kelly claimed that the applicants will be asked for such evidences and if they really want to come to US then they will have to cooperate. If not, then next person in line will be investigated.

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