Washington (Web Desk): Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly revealed on Tuesday, US embassies could require passwords of personal social media accounts of visa applicants for future background checks.
According to John Kelly, the policy came as part of the effort to lessen the security threat by hardening the selection of visitors to screen out suspects.
He took the stance that the move was taken to consider and screen the visitors with very weak background, especially from seven Muslim majority countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
During the hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee Kelly claimed, “By applying these moves we’re looking at some enhanced or some additional screening. We may want to get on their social media, with passwords.”
He said, “It’s very hard to truly select these people in these countries, the seven countries… But if they come in, we want to know, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet. If they don’t want to cooperate, then they don’t come in to the United States.
He also stressed that no decision had been taken regarding this policy but tighter screening would definitely implemented in the future, even if it means longer delays for awarding US visas to visitors.
He further stated that USA is considering these things.
“But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line.”
The seven countries were targeted in president Donald Trump’s January 27 immigrant and refugee ban order, which has sense been at least temporarily blocked under court order.