Posted on 02/08/2017 1:37:09 PM PST by drewh
People who want to visit the United States could be asked to hand over their social-media passwords to officials as part of enhanced security checks, the country's top domestic security chief said.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told Congress the measure was one of several being considered to vet refugees and visa applicants from seven Muslim-majority countries.
"We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say?" he told the House Homeland Security Committee. "If they don't want to cooperate then you don't come in."
His comments came the same day judges heard arguments over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring entry to most refugees and travelers from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen.
Kelly, a Trump appointee, stressed that asking for people's passwords was just one of "the things that we're thinking about" and that none of the suggestions were concrete.
Under the existing vetting process, according to Kelly, officials "don't have a lot to work with," relying on the applicant's documentation and asking them questions about their background.
He said this was even more problematic when dealing with so-called "failed states" such as Syria or Somalia, where infrastructure and record-keeping has been degraded by conflict.
As well as asking people for their passwords, Kelly said he was looking at trying to obtain people's financial records.
"We can follow the money, so to speak. How are you living, who's sending you money?" he said. "It applies under certain circumstances, to individuals who may be involved in on the payroll of terrorist organizations."
Obtaining visitors' passwords was considered by top officials at the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama administration, but the policy was never adopted, according to an internal department memo obtained by MSNBC in 2015.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
I wouldn’t want American travelers to have to give up passwords to go to other countries.
What if you don’t do social media?
Like me.
I’m not sure I like this. I wouldn’t like it if another foreign country did this to American citizens.
No good. “We’ll need your Twitter and Facebook passwords.” “I don’t do Twitter or Facebook.” Done.
If the United States implements such a policy, there is no doubt that other states will do the exact same thing to American citizens.
“Kelly also suggests looking at financial records to see if an individual is on the payroll of terrorism orgs.”
I’m sure it will be right there on a Bank of Tehran bank statement, “Credit of $1,000,000.00 from ISIS with the notation ‘Terrorist Attack in the United States’”
Can’t blame them. There goes Ireland. Oh well.
No doubt in my mind other countries will reciprocate.
This has a positive upside.
It will be DING on the revenue generating capacity at FakeBook and Twiddle.
Ummmmm a true terrorist will then just have a fake, second social media site about flowers and how dogs are superior to cats.
Idiotic because it is unenforceable.
I don’t have a Facebook or anything like that so what are they going to do? Force me to make one?
I don't do social media either (where one ID's oneself), but I suppose those places (like Facebook) allow one to hide their postings from others, so password access would be needed to see the entirety of one's posting history.
I agree with others that this will boomerang back to Americans. It's not a good idea.
-PJ
The jihadi terrorist woman who shot up San Bernadino had jihad crap all over her facebook. We carefully didn’t look. The Tsarvaev brothers had islamicrap on their pages too. They have no right to come here.
“I’m sure it will be right there on a Bank of Tehran bank statement, “Credit of $1,000,000.00 from ISIS with the notation ‘Terrorist Attack in the United States’””
Childish analysis. Suspicious financial dealings pointing to terrorism leave many footprints.
I was just going to post about the San Bernadino couple. I’m glad I’m not the only one that remembers. If their social media had been vetted, all of those souls would still be alive. Those here that are worried about other countries vetting us are missing the point. They are much safer staying home than entering a country that does not care who visits.
They do not have the right to ask that. Fascism.
“I wouldn’t like it if another foreign country did this to American citizens.”
There is a simple answer. You don’t go to that country.
If/when Kelly gets this approved for visitors from certain countries, many will stop coming here. Particuliarily those who have used the social media sites to plan acts of terrorism.
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