New US visa rule? How social media vetting may expand to foreign journalists and workers
The US government is reportedly expanding its review of visa applicants’ social media activity, with foreign journalists and certain workers from Mexico and Canada potentially facing additional online scrutiny under a reported new vetting plan. The US already requires applicants for some visa categories, including student visas, to provide access to their social media accounts as part of security screening. (AI Generated/Grok) According to a report by news outlet The Daily Signal, an internal State Department memo outlines plans to extend “online presence vetting” to more categories of visa applicants. The reported move would require applicants to make their social media accounts public or accessible for review. The State Department has not confirmed the details of the reported memo. “The department is constantly reviewing and evaluating screening and vetting procedures worldwide to ensure that our visa process upholds the highest standards for US national security and public safety,” a State Department spokesperson told AFP. The spokesperson added that “online presence vetting” helps determine whether applicants are eligible for visas under US law and ensures that …
-1777964537491_d.png "Indian journalists honoured for exposing global rise in digital fraud")
