• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Green card

U.S. Visa Applicants Must Now Disclose Social Media History

March 24, 2025
ConnectedAfrica2025(Day4)-meta-foondamate

Meta and FoondaMate Showcase AI-Powered Learning Innovation at Connected Africa Summit 2025

May 29, 2025
google-veo-3

Veo 3: Game-Changer or Job Taker in the Film Industry?

May 29, 2025
iOS 26

Apple to Launch iOS 26 and Unify Its Software Branding

May 29, 2025
University student fined for defamatory Facebook posts

University Student Fined KES 7.5 Million for Defamatory Facebook Posts

May 29, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
AI Africa policies database

New Platform Brings All African AI Policies Under One Database

May 28, 2025
POATE 2025

Kenya’s Tourism Sector Grows as Travel Gets Easier Across East Africa

May 28, 2025
sodium-ion battery

Researchers Develop Sodium-Ion Battery That Charges to 80% in 6 Minutes

May 27, 2025
TV Gambling Ads

Regulator Fines Stations Using Religious Shows to Push Gambling

May 27, 2025
Connected Africa Summit 2025

Connected Africa 2025 Day 2: Focus on Digital Inclusion & Cybersecurity

May 27, 2025
whatsapp chatbots

iPad Users May Finally Get a Native WhatsApp App

May 28, 2025
Connected Africa Summit

Connected Africa Summit Calls for Unified Tech Vision

May 28, 2025
Kenya Safaricom share sale

Kenya Plans Mega Sale of Safaricom Shares to Raise Over a Billion Dollars

May 26, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

U.S. Visa Applicants Must Now Disclose Social Media History

Naftary Thitu by Naftary Thitu
March 24, 2025
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
286
0
Green card

The Trump administration has implemented a rule requiring nearly all visa applicants, including those seeking green cards, to provide their social media identifiers from the past five years.

This measure, part of the administration’s “extreme vetting” strategy, aims to bolster national security by scrutinizing individuals’ online activities.

Policy Details

Effective since 2019, the policy mandates applicants to disclose usernames for various social media platforms, as well as previous email addresses and phone numbers used during the same period.

The State Department asserts that collecting this information strengthens the vetting process and confirms applicants’ identities.

The information collected can be retained indefinitely and shared among U.S. government agencies and, in certain cases, with other governments. This broad data-sharing capability has raised concerns about the potential misuse of personal information and the lack of clear guidelines on data protection.

Privacy Concerns

The policy has faced legal challenges from organizations such as Doc Society and the International Documentary Association. These groups argue that the requirement infringes on privacy rights and could suppress free expression online.

They contend that the policy forces individuals to choose between their privacy and the opportunity to travel to the United States, potentially deterring open discourse on social media platforms.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has also criticized the policy, highlighting its chilling effect on free speech and privacy. The EFF argues that the requirement exposes vast amounts of personal information, not only about the applicants but also about their social media connections, thereby infringing upon the rights of millions of individuals.

Impact on Applicants

The implementation of this green card policy has led to increased scrutiny at U.S. borders. Reports indicate that border agents have adopted more aggressive tactics. This includes detaining individuals over minor visa issues and conducting extensive searches of electronic devices.

For instance, a German national with a U.S. green card was detained and required hospitalization after a strip search, while a German plumber was detained for 16 days over visa overstay accusations.

Moreover, the policy has raised concerns among universities and companies, prompting them to advise caution to their international students and employees.

The fear is that increased scrutiny and potential misinterpretation of social media content could lead to unwarranted detentions or visa denials, impacting academic collaborations and business operations.

While the government emphasizes national security, critics argue that such measures compromise privacy, chill free speech, and may not effectively enhance security.

Tags: Donald TrumpSocial MediaVisa
SendShare160Tweet100
Naftary Thitu

Naftary Thitu

Tech enthusiast and ICT guru by trade, I've swapped debugging code for decoding tech trends. When I’m not wrangling with cybersecurity conundrums or geeking out over the latest gadgets, I’m busy turning techie mumbo jumbo into engaging, often hilarious, articles.

Related Posts

University student fined for defamatory Facebook posts

University Student Fined KES 7.5 Million for Defamatory Facebook Posts

May 29, 2025
ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

May 21, 2025
Tanzania Blocks X, Arrests Opposition Leaders

X (Twitter) Goes Dark in Tanzania

May 21, 2025
Exclusive Trump Dinner Offer Ignites $Trump Coin Price Rally

Trump Coin Price Surges After Promise of Dinner With the President

April 24, 2025
DOGE chair Elon Musk

Elon Musk Prepares to Exit DOGE With Little to Show for It

April 22, 2025
Neptune App

No Followers? No Problem. Neptune Is Changing the Rules

April 15, 2025

Latest

ConnectedAfrica2025(Day4)-meta-foondamate

Meta and FoondaMate Showcase AI-Powered Learning Innovation at Connected Africa Summit 2025

May 29, 2025
google-veo-3

Veo 3: Game-Changer or Job Taker in the Film Industry?

May 29, 2025
iOS 26

Apple to Launch iOS 26 and Unify Its Software Branding

May 29, 2025
University student fined for defamatory Facebook posts

University Student Fined KES 7.5 Million for Defamatory Facebook Posts

May 29, 2025
AI Africa policies database

New Platform Brings All African AI Policies Under One Database

May 28, 2025
POATE 2025

Kenya’s Tourism Sector Grows as Travel Gets Easier Across East Africa

May 28, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Meta and FoondaMate Showcase AI-Powered Learning Innovation at Connected Africa Summit 2025

May 29, 2025

Veo 3: Game-Changer or Job Taker in the Film Industry?

May 29, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Veo 3: Game-Changer or Job Taker in the Film Industry?

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

Introducing A Brainbox Quiz: Techweez’s Monthly Trivia Night!

More News

Researchers Develop Sodium-Ion Battery That Charges to 80% in 6 Minutes

Regulator Fines Stations Using Religious Shows to Push Gambling

Connected Africa 2025 Day 2: Focus on Digital Inclusion & Cybersecurity

iPad Users May Finally Get a Native WhatsApp App

Connected Africa Summit Calls for Unified Tech Vision

Kenya Plans Mega Sale of Safaricom Shares to Raise Over a Billion Dollars

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.