The US government is now requesting social media information from visitors seeking to enter the country.
A new version of the ESTA form, which must be filled in by visitors from countries within the Visa Waiver Program prior to making the trip, asks folks to enter usernames from online accounts.
The request asks travelers to “enter information associated with your online presence,” while a drop down menu up brings up options like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. Heck, even GitHub makes the list.
Related: The Snooper’s Charter – What you need to know
The proposal was approved by the US Department of Homeland Security on December 19, Politico reports.
The change, which is designed to help the government spot terrorists, had been opposed for months by critics, including a coalition of tech giants inching Google, Facebook and Twitter.
The Internet Association said the change could “have a chilling effect on use of social media networks, online sharing and, ultimately, free speech online.”
It appears those warnings were unheeded.
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Would you be willing to hand the US your online usernames? Share your comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.