US proposal would force to disclose social media history

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Australian tourists could be asked to provide five-years of their social media history when entering the United States under a new proposal by American officials. It's part of a move by President Donald Trump to tighten US borders, citing national security as a key reason.

Transcript

00:00The U.S. is a destination for hundreds of thousands of Australians every year.

00:07Most don't need a visa, instead filling in an online waiver form.

00:12But the Trump administration's proposal could make coming to America a far more difficult process.

00:19Australia is one of dozens of countries likely affected.

00:23Currently Australians visiting the United States make an electronic application to U.S. authorities

00:29and providing your social media details is optional.

00:33Under the proposed changes, it will be mandatory.

00:36In addition, applicants could also have to supply phone numbers and email addresses

00:41for up to the last 10 years, family member names and biometrics, including photographs and fingerprints.

00:48Critics say the change will invade applicants' privacy.

00:52Most people don't seek to engage in social media

00:55with an understanding that a foreign government will be seeking to trawl through their social media.

01:00I think it's intrusive and it's dangerous and I wouldn't go.

01:08If it was more difficult to go there for a short stay, then yeah, I wouldn't want to go.

01:14Australians are being warned that scrubbing their social media accounts

01:18doesn't guarantee entry into the U.S.

01:21Once that information has been handed over, the United States government will be able to access

01:25not what you've said, but what you've been saying quite recently.

01:29The United States, like Australia, is a sovereign nation.

01:33They have a right to set the rules which are there.

01:38The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal.

01:41The United States, like, 40 years in this space.

01:46I don't think they've been trying to manage their social media accounts.

01:48They have a right to go and get to the archives.

01:50What does that mean?

01:51It doesn't mean anything.

01:52The United States, like Australia's already been told,

01:53and we were on a to-do it.

01:54The United States has a valuable tool.

01:55The United States of America, the United States,

01:56and the United States have a lot of awards.

01:58But we've created a lot of awards which are the people who have joined,

01:59the United States of America and the United States of America

02:00to the United States of America

02:01They have a good, the United States of America and the United States.

02:03The United States are fairly incredibly diverse.

02:04The United States has a great deal.

02:05As they have a lot of interest in the US.

02:06And they've seen the United States of America.

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