Washington - Travellers to the United States could be forced to hand over their mobile phones and social media passwords, as part of new “extreme vetting” measures reportedly being considered by the Trump administration. The proposed changes, which may also include questioning visitors on their ideology, would apply to most countries including the US’ closest allies, reports the Wall Street Journal. The measures looks to apply a more sceptical approach to visitors. “If there is any doubt about a person’s intentions coming to the United States, they should have to overcome – really and truly prove to our satisfaction – that they are coming for legitimate reasons,” Gene Hamilton, a senior counsellor to the Department of Homeland Security told the Journal. Suggestions of the new measures were first reported in February when Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told Congress the handing over of social media passwords was a possible measure the administration was considering. The idea of requesting social media passwords was reportedly initially touted by the Obama administration in 2015 but later scrapped. Under the new suggestions, the biggest change would be the handing over of mobile phones so border officials could scour a visitor’s contacts and information. A senior Homeland security official told the WSJ the goal is to “figure out who you are communicating with… What you can get on the average person’s phone can be invaluable”. Most famously, there has been a slew of criticism in response to Trump's executive order for a travel ban for all visitors from seven Muslim majority countries which has since been blocked twice in court.(FA)
