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US to screen social media of foreign journalists for visas
The US State Department will expand social media screening to foreign journalists and certain Canadian and Mexican professionals applying for US work visas, according to a report by conservative outlet The Daily…
The Story in Brief
The US State Department will expand social media screening to foreign journalists and certain Canadian and Mexican professionals applying for US work visas, according to a report by conservative outlet The Daily Signal citing an internal memo. The policy, which builds on existing Trump administration measures targeting other visa categories, requires applicants to make social media accounts public for consular review.
A State Department spokesperson said the agency screens and vets to the maximum extent possible to ensure applicants respect US law and do not pose security threats. The department would not confirm the memo's specifics. Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about freedom of speech, as the administration previously revoked visas of foreign nationals over comments deemed antisemitic or anti-American.
The Indian Opinion
The US visa social media screening expansion has drawn predictable cries of overreach. But lazy narratives miss the point: every nation has the right to vet those seeking entry, especially for sensitive roles like journalism. The real question isn't whether this policy is harsh, but whether it targets actual security threats or merely political speech. Watch how the US defines 'anti-Americanism' – the number of visa denials for critical reporting will reveal if this is security or censorship.
Sources (3): ndtv.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com, telanganatoday.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
