Now Reading: US to Screen Foreign Journalists’ Social Media for Visa Applications
-
01
US to Screen Foreign Journalists’ Social Media for Visa Applications
US to Screen Foreign Journalists’ Social Media for Visa Applications
The US State Department will vet the social media accounts of foreign journalists seeking visas to work in the United States, according to a report by The Daily Signal cited by NDTV…
The Story in Brief
The US State Department will vet the social media accounts of foreign journalists seeking visas to work in the United States, according to a report by The Daily Signal cited by NDTV and The Economic Times. The reported policy would expand an existing Trump administration measure requiring many visa applicants to make their accounts public for screening. Applicants for another category covering workers from Canada and Mexico would also be included.
The State Department declined to confirm the internal memo, saying it does not comment on purported documents. It said online presence vetting checks visa eligibility, fraud, national security, public safety and compliance with US law. The start date was unclear. Civil liberties groups have raised concerns about using online speech in immigration decisions.
The Indian Opinion
Claims that every journalist will be rejected for criticism of the US are exaggerated, just as dismissing the policy as routine paperwork is too casual. The department has not confirmed the memo’s details or the enforcement date. The real test will be whether clear rules are published, applicants receive consistent decisions, and the number of visa refusals linked to social media is disclosed.
Sources (2): ndtv.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
