The week, the US CBP published a notice in the Federal Register proposing a change to the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record paperwork that visitors to the US fill out when they cross the border, in which they announce plans to ask travellers to "please enter information associated with your online presence."

The form element will be optional, but of course, CBP screeners may subject travellers who decline to reveal their online names for additional scrutiny.

Visitors the USA are already photographed, fingerprinted, and interviewed.

Many countries have reciprocity policies through which they subject visitors to procedures that mirror those imposed by their own governments. For example, Brazil fingerprints Americans, because Americans fingerprint Brazilians; other visitors are not fingerprinted.

You have 58 days left to comment on the proposal.

"Please enter information associated with your online presence—Provider/Platform—Social media identifier." It will be an optional data field to request social media identifiers to be used for vetting purposes, as well as applicant contact information. Collecting social media data will enhance the existing investigative process and provide DHS greater clarity and visibility to possible nefarious activity and connections by providing an additional tool set which analysts and investigators may use to better analyze and investigate the case.

Agency Information Collection Activities: Arrival and Departure Record (Forms I-94 and I-94W) and Electronic System for Travel Authorization

[Customs and Border Patrol/Federal Register]



US Customs wants to collect social media account names at the border

[Russell Brandom/The Verge]