Censorship pure and simple': critics hit out at Trump plan to vet visitors' social media

"In a move that some commentators compared to China and others warned would decimate tourism to the US, including the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the Department for Homeland Security said it was planning to apply the rules to visitors from 42 countries, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, France, Germany and Japan, if they want to enter the US on the commonly used Esta visa waiver."

"The checks will be carried out when a traveller applies for their Esta and will require Esta applicants to provide their social media from the last five years as well as telephone numbers used in the last five years and email addresses used in the last 10 years, government documents show. The seriousness of this move should not be downplayed, said Jemimah Steinfeld, the chief executive of Index on Censorship in London."

"Through a simple search any posts critical of Trump and his administration could be revealed and then what? Will admission to the USA be predicated on being nice about the president? That would be censorship pure and simple and the result will extend far beyond as people start to self-censor to keep the door to the USA open to them."

The White House announced plans to require visa applicants from dozens of countries to submit social media, phone and email histories for vetting before entry to the US. The Department for Homeland Security plans to apply the rules to visitors from 42 countries, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, France, Germany and Japan, for entry under the commonly used ESTA visa waiver. ESTA applicants would supply social media from the last five years, telephone numbers used in the last five years and email addresses used in the last 10 years. Rights groups warned the measure amounts to censorship, will prompt self-censorship, shreds civil liberties and is wildly disproportionate to legitimate border needs. Campaigners also warned of potential damage to tourism, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and linked the proposal to years of unchecked data-trawling at borders.

Read at www.theguardian.com