US Customs might look your online pressence before allowing you over the border? What!

[AlTech]

If you want to enter the United States of America anytime soon, you will probably be asked for your online social media display names/user names by US Customs and Border Patrol.

 

This has yet to be voted on but it is likely to be implemented. It will be optional to write this down if passed

 

Quote

 

 

Your Twitter handle may soon be part of the US visa process. Yesterday, US Customs and Border Protection entered a new proposal into the federal register, suggesting a new field in which persons entering the country can declare their various social media accounts and screen names. The information wouldn’t be mandatory, but the proposed field would still provide customs officials with an unprecedented window into the online life of travelers. The process already includes fingerprinting, an in-person interview, and numerous database checks.

The proposal focuses on arrival / departure forms commonly collected from non-citizens at the US border, as well as the electronic form used for anyone entering the country under a visa waiver. Under the proposed changes, those forms would include a new optional data field prompting visitors to "please enter information associated with your online presence," followed by open fields for specific platforms and screen names.

 

 

It’s unclear from the proposal how thoroughly officials will examine the social profiles, although it’s clear they will be used for investigative purposes. "Collecting social media data will enhance the existing investigative process and provide DHS greater clarity and visibility to possible nefarious activity and connections," the announcement reads.

The public has 60 days to comment on the new proposal before it will be formally considered. Comments can be mailed to Customs and Border Protection at its Washington office.

Immigration and intelligence agencies have been under increasing pressure to scrutinize social media profiles after the San Bernardino shooting in December of last year.

 

This looks like way too much info for them....... Why do we have to sacrifice privacy for this shit?

 

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/24/12026364/us-customs-border-patrol-online-account-twitter-facebook-instagram

[Sir Asvald]

Too bad I don't use twitter or Faceboo anymore. 

[porina]

Given it wont initially be mandatory, plus the ease of setting up multiple and/or fake accounts, I find it hard to believe they will get any value out of this. It sounds more like someone thought it was an idea to look good, rather than actually doing anything useful.

[Misanthrope]

Um sirs...With all due respect. Take it from a frequent US tourist. Do you have any idea of how many people cross your borders daily?

 

This is a good day. 2 to 3 hours of queue is kind of the norm on busy days during peak hours. 7 to 8 hours of queue is not unheard of. Your plan, is to ask each and every one of this cars for 2 to 4 logins per person......

 

This would be 1000x more effective than the wall the car lines on the borders would reach Guatemala motherfucker!

[Trixanity]

"Here, Mr. customs agent: this is a list of all my ISIS social media accounts and yes, I put a check mark on your form asking if I was indeed a terrorist. Can I go and do my thing now?"

 

Wat.

 

Also, I'm on a list now.

[suicidalfranco]

and you guys laughed at China with their score system

[dlink377]

I haven't access my social media accounts for years. Don't really need it anymore.

 

Since it is just optional, I don't see the big problem. They also cannot force it since I know some people doesn't use Facebook or Twitter, etc

[ThinkWithPortals]

Good thing the only account I have that's worth looking at is Steam.

[Castdeath97]

Someone needs to be fired for making this proposal. Do they understand that it's completely possible to make fake accounts? Or that not everyone has social media accounts? I'm baffled by their level of stupidity.

[Sir Asvald]

3 minutes ago, Castdeath97 said:

Someone needs to be fired for making this proposal. Do they understand that it's completely possible to make fake accounts? Or that not everyone has social media accounts? I'm baffled by their level of stupidity.

Name on ID is Bob. Name on Social Media is Fred. LOL!

[minibois]

19 minutes ago, Abdul201588 said:

Name on ID is Bob. Name on Social Media is Fred. LOL!

Well you do have people that use pseudonyms/fake names online. 

[Sir Asvald]

11 minutes ago, Minibois said:

Well you do have people that use pseudonyms/fake names online. 

Yeah, I just found it funny that people use fake names. Or they changed it legally.

[handymanshandle]

But it isn't applicable to people who are citizens of the US entering or leaving the US?

I kinda get why but privacy settings exist, unless they're doing some shady shit.

[Godlygamer23]

57 minutes ago, porina said:

Given it wont initially be mandatory, plus the ease of setting up multiple and/or fake accounts, I find it hard to believe they will get any value out of this. It sounds more like someone thought it was an idea to look good, rather than actually doing anything useful.

Most information on personal accounts can be hidden anyways, unless they're delving that far into the investigation. This seems largely a waste of time, and as you said, it's not mandatory right now. 

[Godlygamer23]

41 minutes ago, Castdeath97 said:

Someone needs to be fired for making this proposal. Do they understand that it's completely possible to make fake accounts? Or that not everyone has social media accounts? I'm baffled by their level of stupidity.

Or that they can simply hide all their information and activity, except to Friends?

 

Yes, I capitalized "friends." Used to distinguish between real friends and Facebook Friends, which are not the same.

[Trik'Stari]

Ahem.

 

 

[Memories4K]

It's not that i disagree with the belief that we need stronger border security, it's just that we can do better. This would be a waste of time and resources, what's to stop someone from simply lying?

 

"Oh no, sir, i've never used th- what was it you called it? The tweeter? the phasebook? I'm an old egg haha"

[unsubscribed]

I don't know how is this unusual. And I don't know why are they mentioning it other than asking for your online alias that can differ from your name.

When you are looking for a job most companies would look into your facebook and linkedin as well. Anyone can look anyone in facebook. If you are crazy enough to do silly things that might affect your future in a big way and even stupid enough to document it online I have no objections of authorities busting your arse.

[Godlygamer23]

9 minutes ago, Memories4K said:

It's not that i disagree with the belief that we need stronger border security, it's just that we can do better. This would be a waste of time and resources, what's to stop someone from simply lying?

That's where science, and more specifically psychological research comes in. 

[tbake0155]

Personally, I'm tired of (other people's) privacy.  I'm ready for robot overlords that can read your mind.

[NinjaJc01]

I have next to nothing associated with my name online. Which, combined with the fact I share my name with someone from history, would make this sort of thing kind of funny...

[Doobeedoo]

Wow, just wow. Such idiocy. Will they force this later on? It will pass if dumb mass just accepts it with idiotic attitude.

[Monkey Dust]

I guess you have to do something to deter all those pesky tourists, performing such antisocial acts as spending money. 

[Pesmerga]

well time to change my twitter handle (@d3vilindisguise).

 

This is so annoying I do have social media accoutn but I barely use them, my facebook account is opened just for university news and group posts and my twitter account exists just for gleam.io giveaways.

[Sauron]

Joke's on them, I don't use facebook or twitter and in the sites that I DO use I don't use my real name, so they can't know it's me. I wonder how they can check if someone truly does not have an account or isn't telling them the truth.