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Don't underestimate the power of a seemingly innocuous 140-character tweet that you posted last night on Twitter expressing your views on Trump's first 100 days as the US President. Well, that tweet could make or break your big American dreams.
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Yes, you read it right. Nearly two months after Donald Trump promised "extreme vetting" of immigrants to safeguard national interests, the US State Department has sought access to social media account information so that they can conduct a more rigorous check on certain high-risk visa applicants. The public notice was quietly published on Thursday without much hullabaloo.
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What does it mean for general public?
According to the Recode report, the new rules are yet to be finalized and the visa applicants need not get worried. While the new norms are basically meant for a small percentage of suspected visa-applicants, those who choose not to share their account details won't be screened out merely on this ground. The government stressed that individual's privacy is also as important as national security.
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65,000 visa applicants to be affected
If the new rules get approved, it would affect nearly 65,000 visa applicants which is mere 0.5 percent of all visa applications. Such applicants would be required to share not just their social media accounts but also other things like their travel history or their email-ids used in past five years.
Paranoia or safeguarding national security
Though, the proposed rules are being presented in national interests, skeptics believe it is going to be a labor-intensive drill with little results. Honestly, no terrorist will ever post on his Facebook page that he'll blow up a building or mow down pedestrians on a street.
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What next?
The proposal is open to public comment and is expected to face lot of flak from tech industry and masses alike but even then we'll suggest- Please be careful while expressing yourself on social media platforms, if you wish to go to the US for higher studies or for work.