Slashdot Mirror
US Visitors May Have to Hand Over Social Media Passwords: DHS (nbcnews.com)
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. From a report on NBC: Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told Congress on Tuesday 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."
At least with FB it's against the TOS, and if you sign on from an unfamiliar IP, it would try other challenges to validate your identity.
I can imagine Facebook, Twitter etc. blowing up over this.
Besides, if they get password access how can they use ANYTHING they find as evidence of anything? They've got WRITE access, for crying out loud! The evidence chain isn't just poisoned, it's rotted right through.
-=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
Maybe other countries will demand the same thing. I can see el Presidente Tweety giving up his password in the name of security.
Next up on the hit series "'Murica: Hell yeah!", the orange prez makes a scandalous law - all students are to get daily cavity searches.
While glove manufacturer stock prices are soaring, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly tells worried students "If you don't want your rectum searched for contraband, just stay at home.
God-damn the news are getting entertaining.
People will just keep real and fake social media accounts. One for real stuff, and one for border control to ogle.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
USA doesn't want tourists visiting the country
or business people doing trade deals
I'm not surprised DHS is "considering" something like this. Certain gestapo elements in our government always are trying thuggish and ill considered tactics to make their lives easier. This is plainly a stupid and counterproductive idea to anyone with a functioning brain but the danger is real enough. The good news is that the companies affected (Facebook, Twitter, etc) have lots of money and flesh eating lawyers to fight such an over-reach by the government. I don't generally trust Facebook but I do trust their profit motive and DHS forcing people to hand over passwords is a clear and present danger to their bottom line.
If this behavior is permitted, then the social media sites need to start implementing read-only passwords for account. It is one thing to allow the US government to see everything n your account, and all your friend's accounts. It is an entirely different thing to allow the US government to act on your behalf with your account.
Don't forget those subversive Canadians! Them and their secrets around making good poutine or which beers taste best! Dude, you really have no clue do you. IF someone intending to do harm were entering the country, do you really think they will have social media posts about it or contain their devious plans on their phones or laptops? This just affects honest and decent people.
Using 2FA authentication won't work to stop them.
They ALREADY ask you to allow inspection of electronics. If you refuse to give them the password, expect to not get your phone, laptop, or tablet back till you either give them the password or they image the whole thing for NSA's "enhanced decryption".
If DHS hasn't already scanned social media for jihadi, socialist, or subversive secrets, and linked them to individuals who can be identified on arrival in the US, then they HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THEIR JOB. Not one more tax dollar for security theater.
Just another reason to not use social media.
P.S. I don't even remember my FB password, on those rare occasions that I try to use FB from a new device I always have to go through the "forgot your password?" ordeal. But I don't expect border officials to be too sympathetic about that.
Most social networks (like Facebook) expressly forbid sharing passwords or allowing others to use your account. Because that's the policy it becomes a Felony according to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The United States Court of Appeals has affirmed sharing accounts contrary to the TOS is a violation of the CFAA and there are people in PRISON as we speak for doing just that.
I would contend that you cannot be compelled to commit a felony by a agent of the United States. If DHS wants this power they need to have the CFAA amended to grant them an exemption.
What if you come into the country not planning to visit your social media account and therefor you don't bring and devices with you?
It is already common practice for travelers to bring blanked out devices with them and then restore them once they are through the checkpoints.
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
I'm sure it will be a surprise to all the people of Arabic, Turkic, Indo-Iranian or East Indian peoples to know that they are of Negroid ancestry
Enjoy paying 10 cents to your carrier to receive an SMS every time you log in.
These are people travelling to the US. Not Americans.
Outside the US, people generally don't pay to receive; only to send.
That's my point: the US government is offering to look at people's social media accounts in lieu of official government records.
I expect the court order will be overturned quickly. Not admitting people from countries without good government records is reasonable and within Trump's authority.
Trump, like Obama, was elected on the promise of putting an end to these kinds of unwise foreign adventures. We'll have to see whether he does a better job than Obama.
How exactly is data sitting on a server in silicon valley "at the border" just because the person who created that data is at the border? By that logic, you can search their car, house, workplace and bank account without a warrant as long as they are standing at the border when you do it.
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
Try n9y25ah7.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
The password is "theseassholesmademecreatethisaccount". No caps.Easy to remember.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
"DHS officials also stated that if the wife of a US visitor is good-looking, they want to demand they get to sleep with the woman before allowing entry to the couple..."
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
>> I deleted my facebook several years ago.
Last I heard this isn't actually possible.