5 ms·

I don't see why this is so controversial. It seems like the proper way to do a background check in the current era. It really all depends on _what_ disqualifie

I don't see why this is so controversial. It seems like the proper way to do a background check in the current era. It really all depends on _what_ disqualifies someone from entry. The worry seems to stem from a general distrust of ICE and the current administration rather than this actual technique. I have to think that if someone bragging about criminal activity on Instagram/Twitter got through the border and murdered somebody, ICE would be criticized for not doing their due diligence.

Mirioron 7y ago
Because a lot of conversions nowadays happen online. If you have to give them access to everything then they'll also know everything about you and there's absolutely no reassurance that this information isn't going to be used in malicious ways. Even the NSA couldn't keep its agents in check and they abused access to the data for personal gain. How are they going to stop border agents?
- cced 7y ago
  Source on the mentioned abuse of access?
  - T3OU-736 7y ago
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-surveillance-watchdog-idUSBRE98Q14G20130927 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-surveillance-watchdog... seems to be relevant
new299 7y ago
> I don't see why this is so controversial. It seems like the proper way to do a background check in the current era. Because it's not normal to perform extensive background checks for people visiting your country? I'd think it pretty weird it they wanted to interview my family, friends, employer, previous employer. > The worry seems to stem from a general distrust of ICE and the current administration rather than this actual technique. No... I mean I find the actual technique offensive. They can find public profiles associated with my name by googling me. Why do you need to provide them information about which handles are associated with me? If it's because otherwise they might mismatch profiles <-> individuals, perhaps they just shouldn't be using this information to profile people?
- ferzul 7y ago
  he was coming to live in the US as a student, not just visit. It is offensive in this case because it wasn't anything he did that lost him the visa, just social media connections said. More generally, I know that my social media is important to my wife's visa in a completely different country, and the government may interview our friends and family. (I view it as offensive, invasive; but it does normal that the government would indeed interrogate perhaps excessively immigrants, even temporary ones)
  - masonic 7y ago
    it wasn't anything he did that lost him the visa You don't know that, nor does the NYT, not does the Crimson. None of these reporters saw any of the social media activity firsthand, nor do they claim to in the articles. My guess is that he "liked" text or image(s) that for some reason raised concern.
  - new299 7y ago
    In the first case mentioned in the article. They request social media identifiers I believe for all visitors now.
Defenestresque 7y ago
Here's the thing, I know exactly what rules I'd ordinarily need to follow in order to enter the United States. It's a mental checklist when coming from Canada: 1) am I carrying any contraband? Drugs, guns, undeclared currency or goods, etc. 2) Can I show that I can support myself during my stay? Do I have a return ticket? Enough cash? Compared to these requirements these searches are completely opaque. If I'm asked to hand over my device I'm thinking: 1) How much is the agent going to access? Is s/he going to see an NSFW pic I emailed to the gf? 2) Are there any legitimate protections keeping them from logging into my social media accounts and going through my history? 3) Is there any recourse if they see me making a "420" joke ten years ago on Facebook and denying me entry? There should be clear criteria admissibility that also serves to protect your privacy.
masonic 7y ago
if someone bragging about criminal activity on Instagram/Twitter got through the border and murdered somebody Like Tashfeen Malik, a Pakistani in the USA on a valid visa, who pledged allegiance to ISIS on social media before the San Bernardino massacre. These policies to inspect social media are one result.
- mindslight 7y ago
  Rather, these social media policies are a result of a government and news media that operate on an assumption that everything bad can be prevented if only they have enough power. Random idiots merely supply a convenient narrative for longstanding authoritarian motives.

Mirioron 7y ago

Because a lot of conversions nowadays happen online. If you have to give them access to everything then they'll also know everything about you and there's absolutely no reassurance that this information isn't going to be used in malicious ways. Even the NSA couldn't keep its agents in check and they abused access to the data for personal gain. How are they going to stop border agents?

cced 7y ago
Source on the mentioned abuse of access?
- T3OU-736 7y ago
  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-surveillance-watchdog-idUSBRE98Q14G20130927 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-surveillance-watchdog... seems to be relevant

new299 7y ago

> I don't see why this is so controversial. It seems like the proper way to do a background check in the current era. Because it's not normal to perform extensive background checks for people visiting your country? I'd think it pretty weird it they wanted to interview my family, friends, employer, previous employer. > The worry seems to stem from a general distrust of ICE and the current administration rather than this actual technique. No... I mean I find the actual technique offensive. They can find public profiles associated with my name by googling me. Why do you need to provide them information about which handles are associated with me? If it's because otherwise they might mismatch profiles <-> individuals, perhaps they just shouldn't be using this information to profile people?

ferzul 7y ago
he was coming to live in the US as a student, not just visit. It is offensive in this case because it wasn't anything he did that lost him the visa, just social media connections said. More generally, I know that my social media is important to my wife's visa in a completely different country, and the government may interview our friends and family. (I view it as offensive, invasive; but it does normal that the government would indeed interrogate perhaps excessively immigrants, even temporary ones)
- masonic 7y ago
  it wasn't anything he did that lost him the visa You don't know that, nor does the NYT, not does the Crimson. None of these reporters saw any of the social media activity firsthand, nor do they claim to in the articles. My guess is that he "liked" text or image(s) that for some reason raised concern.
- new299 7y ago
  In the first case mentioned in the article. They request social media identifiers I believe for all visitors now.

Defenestresque 7y ago

Here's the thing, I know exactly what rules I'd ordinarily need to follow in order to enter the United States. It's a mental checklist when coming from Canada: 1) am I carrying any contraband? Drugs, guns, undeclared currency or goods, etc. 2) Can I show that I can support myself during my stay? Do I have a return ticket? Enough cash? Compared to these requirements these searches are completely opaque. If I'm asked to hand over my device I'm thinking: 1) How much is the agent going to access? Is s/he going to see an NSFW pic I emailed to the gf? 2) Are there any legitimate protections keeping them from logging into my social media accounts and going through my history? 3) Is there any recourse if they see me making a "420" joke ten years ago on Facebook and denying me entry? There should be clear criteria admissibility that also serves to protect your privacy.

masonic 7y ago

if someone bragging about criminal activity on Instagram/Twitter got through the border and murdered somebody Like Tashfeen Malik, a Pakistani in the USA on a valid visa, who pledged allegiance to ISIS on social media before the San Bernardino massacre. These policies to inspect social media are one result.

mindslight 7y ago
Rather, these social media policies are a result of a government and news media that operate on an assumption that everything bad can be prevented if only they have enough power. Random idiots merely supply a convenient narrative for longstanding authoritarian motives.