Music News

Privacy Nightmare: US Considering Asking Foreign Visitors for Social Media Info and Access to Your Contacts

Think the current travel ban controversy is weird? Think getting through the border is tough? We ain’t seen nothin’ yet. CNN reports

…that Trump administration officials are discussing the possibility of asking foreign visitors to disclose all websites and social media sites they visit, and to share the contacts in their cell phones. If the foreign visitor declines to share such information, he or she could be denied entry.

Sources told CNN that the idea is just in the preliminary discussion level.

No one is saying how these policies would be enacted, but it wouldn’t be anything less than a nightmare. You want to see all my contacts? My browser history? What I’ve posted on Facebook and Twitter and Snapchat and Instagram before you let me into the country? And who makes the judgment on what they find? What would the criteria be for being refused entry? Too many Nickelback songs?

Can you imagine the outcry about this assault on privacy? Wouldn’t this be a violation of the Fourth Amendment?

This’ll never fly, right? Right?

 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38040 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “Privacy Nightmare: US Considering Asking Foreign Visitors for Social Media Info and Access to Your Contacts

  • While I understand the outrage, they’re already doing that, juts not in all cases. Check some of the stories coming out in the Canadian news about various people being refused entry. The police state has been well on its way for a few years.

    Reply

Let us know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.