Federal Judge Upholds State Department Rule Requiring Visa Applicants to Disclose Social Media Information
www.eff.org
Since 2019, people applying for a visa to the United States have had to register their social media accounts with the U.S. government as part of the application process. Two U.S.-based documentary film organizations that regularly collaborate with non-U.S. filmmakers and other international...

Summary

  • A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a rule that requires visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts to the U.S. government.

  • The rule, which went into effect in 2019, applies to visa applicants from all countries.

  • The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, two U.S.-based documentary film organizations, argued that the rule violated the First Amendment rights of visa applicants.

  • It’s unclear if the plaintiffs plan to appeal the ruling.

Additional Details

  • The rule requires visa applicants to disclose their social media identifiers, including pseudonymous accounts, for the past five years.

  • The plaintiffs argued that the rule would chill free speech and association, as visa applicants would be less likely to express themselves on social media if they knew that the government could see their posts.

  • The ruling is a reminder of the challenges faced by people who want to protect their privacy online.

  • wagoner
    1•1 year ago

    Yes it’s lying. What if you left blank a request to list your criminal convictions?

    • @PuppyOSAndCoffee@lemmy.ml
      1•1 year ago

      straw man. Nobody can fact check your favorite color which can change from month to month.

      Your criminal history is factual and evidence based.

      • wagoner
        1•1 year ago

        I never brought up colors, which are nothing like the specific and provable social media handles. Best not to lie on a visa application, especially not about something that can be proven with subpoenas.