WASHINGTON: A new government proposal could have international visitors to the U.S. sharing their Facebook and Twitter info.
International visitors to the United States have to fill out customs forms and get their fingerprints scanned. But a new proposal submitted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to the federal register of the American government this week could add an additional layer of security: Customs officials would like to be able to ask travelers for their social media account handles.
The proposal comes after the tragic shooting last year in San Bernardino, California, where the perpetrators reportedly talked about their plans to commit the crime over Facebook Messenger, raising questions about security issues on social media platforms. However, the USCB’s program, which only asks for usernames, would not be able to access private messages on individual accounts unless they also have passwords. The Verge reports that the measure would add a field reading “please enter information associated with your online presence,” then have open slots to fill in the names of the sites (Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and the traveler’s usernames. Potential upside: getting customs officials to follow you on Snapchat?
Before the proposal will be considered by the government, the public has 60 days to weigh in either by phone or snail mail. They can send comments to 90 K Street NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, or call (202) 325-0123. If the proposal passes, it’s not clear how long it would need to take effect. Critics of the plan say that the “optional” social media username request could be a gateway toward mandatory sharing down the road.
