US to Examine Foreign Journalists’ Social Media Accounts for Visa

WASHINGTON: The US State Department is set to examine the social media accounts of foreign journalists applying for visas to work in the United States, as part of a broader expansion of online screening of visa applicants.

According to Reuters, foreign media representatives will be included in the screening process, requiring visa applicants to make their social media accounts available for review.

The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to scrutinise the online activities of foreign nationals seeking entry into the United States.

The State Department has previously expanded social media screening to other categories of visa applicants. Officials say the checks are intended to ensure that foreign nationals comply with US laws and do not pose a threat to national security, public safety or US interests.

A State Department spokesperson said the department screens and vets foreign nationals to the maximum extent possible, although officials did not confirm specific details of the reported policy.

The development comes as the Trump administration has increasingly relied on applicants’ online activities in immigration and visa decisions.

The policy could raise concerns among press freedom and free-expression advocates, particularly over how journalists’ professional reporting, political views and social media activity may be assessed during the visa process.