Border Collection of Social Media Data Would Hurt Twitter, Platform Says

The State Department’s proposal to collect social media information from nonimmigrant visa applicants could hinder free speech and hurt the value of Twitter, wrote the company's Director-North America Public Policy and Philanthropy Carlos Monje in comments in docket 2018-0002 published Tuesday. The agency also is proposing to collect history from active and inactive social media accounts dating back five years from immigrant visa applicants. The department seeks to access phone numbers and email addresses in the same time span. “If users applying for a nonimmigrant visa are forced to disclose Twitter handles associated with otherwise anonymous accounts, the value of Twitters [sic] platform for such users evaporates,” Monje wrote, calling anonymous speech a hallmark of the platform. Media Alliance Executive Director Tracy Rosenberg also wrote against the changes, saying they “could place many Americans, like journalists, NGO workers, academics and others in mortal danger by giving such a vast amount of information to foreign governments that may not wish them well.” Public comment closed Tuesday.