3 ms·

> It's now common for border agents in the US to demand login credentials for social media accounts, and search all electronic devises. Can you define common?

microtherion 10y ago
The ESTA form asks for social media accounts (though not passwords, and ostensibly providing the accounts is "optional"): https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
- TorKlingberg 10y ago
  It does indeed. Here is a screen shot: http://imgur.com/a/jreOU http://imgur.com/a/jreOU
- Swizec 10y ago
  Oh wow that wasn't there last time I ESTA'd. Good thing I got that business visa a few years ago. Then again, I used my social media and general web presence as partial justification for the current O-1 visa so ... oh well. At least they can't find anything by googling my legal name.
  - StavrosK 10y ago
    Fucking hell, that's the first time I see this too. I might have to reconsider my US trip...
matt4077 10y ago
Requesting account names is already common practice: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/foreign-travelers-social-media-232930 http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/foreign-travelers-soci.... That does not include passwords, and it's "voluntary". But having filled out US immigration forms a few times (and watched others doing it), the process is quite intimidating and many will be pressured into providing that data. Why else would they? There is no upside to the US gov having that data for me. With regards to passwords, I don't have numbers, but have seen a few dozen reports over the years without actively looking for them and knowing someone personally to whom it happened (he refused and was allowed entry after a few hours). And whatever is currently discussed would probably include it, considering the San Bernadino case they cite as justification involved information shared with strict privacy setting: https://www.google.de/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=us+asking+for+social+media+accounts https://www.google.de/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=us+askin...

microtherion 10y ago

The ESTA form asks for social media accounts (though not passwords, and ostensibly providing the accounts is "optional"): https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

TorKlingberg 10y ago
It does indeed. Here is a screen shot: http://imgur.com/a/jreOU http://imgur.com/a/jreOU
Swizec 10y ago
Oh wow that wasn't there last time I ESTA'd. Good thing I got that business visa a few years ago. Then again, I used my social media and general web presence as partial justification for the current O-1 visa so ... oh well. At least they can't find anything by googling my legal name.
- StavrosK 10y ago
  Fucking hell, that's the first time I see this too. I might have to reconsider my US trip...

matt4077 10y ago

Requesting account names is already common practice: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/foreign-travelers-social-media-232930 http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/foreign-travelers-soci.... That does not include passwords, and it's "voluntary". But having filled out US immigration forms a few times (and watched others doing it), the process is quite intimidating and many will be pressured into providing that data. Why else would they? There is no upside to the US gov having that data for me. With regards to passwords, I don't have numbers, but have seen a few dozen reports over the years without actively looking for them and knowing someone personally to whom it happened (he refused and was allowed entry after a few hours). And whatever is currently discussed would probably include it, considering the San Bernadino case they cite as justification involved information shared with strict privacy setting: https://www.google.de/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=us+asking+for+social+media+accounts https://www.google.de/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=us+askin...