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Comment by s0ss | Hacker News Reader

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s0ss·

Erm, did you read the article? Visiting the country != immigration.

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It's also implemented for visitors, in fact earlier than this.

http://fortune.com/2017/06/01/u-s-border-social-media/

don't forget the classic:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Buntin...

To be honest, as an English person, I'd be quite happy for the US to have kept both of them along with anyone else who uses "destroy" in that context.

So if you decide to visit to do harm you're not subjected to the search, only if you plan to stay and contribute? That sounds silly, right? Thankfully it's an easy fix now the tech is in place -- you just flip the switch! Easier than boiling a frog!

IIRC they had (non mandatory) questions about social media accounts already on the ESTA form last time I flew into NYC in January.

If its not mandatory then whats the problem?

“Don’t you really have no Facebook account, Sir?”

"I spend my working days looking into a computer screen. I prefer spending my free time talking to people face to face".

If true, then fine.

Otherwise this would be a recommendation to lie to customs/immigration officers... and I strongly recommend not doing that.

"Please step into that room for a secondary inspection".

The problem is, as a traveler, I now have to choose between my privacy and reduced chance of getting entry into U.S.

It is becoming mandatory.

It is also being extended to legal aliens and citizens (naturalized - like me)

"The U.S. government will ask all citizens on re-entry their last IRS tax filings. Optional. "

Well border guards can't turn away a US citizen, so it really would be optional.

It's really only a matter of time. It's already an 'optional extra' on the visa waiver.

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