U.S. Senators Urge Withdrawal of Social Media History Proposal for Visa-Free Visitors

Two Democratic U.S. Senators have called on the Trump administration to abandon a proposal requiring visitors from visa-free countries to provide their social media history from the past five years. According to Jin10, Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden addressed a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, urging the agency to retract the proposal. The senators argued that the new policy represents a significant invasion of privacy. They expressed concerns that individuals visiting the U.S. for family visits, business with American companies, or events like the upcoming World Cup would be subjected to extensive digital surveillance. They emphasized that ordinary visitors should not have their online activities monitored by the expanding surveillance system of the Trump administration, and choosing to visit the U.S. should not equate to forfeiting personal privacy rights.