The US government is considering implementing a new policy that would require foreign tourists to provide their social media history from the past five years when applying for a visa to enter the country. This proposal is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to increase national security measures.
The plan, if approved, would impact millions of visa applicants who wish to visit the United States. The information provided would include usernames used on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as any phone numbers and email addresses associated with the accounts.
Proponents of the measure argue that reviewing applicants’ social media history would enhance the vetting process, helping to identify potential security threats before they enter the country. However, critics raise concerns about privacy issues and the potential for discrimination based on online activity.
The US State Department has not made a final decision on the matter but is currently seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget. If the proposal moves forward, it could become a significant factor in the visa application process for foreign travelers.
Overall, the debate surrounding this policy centers on balancing national security needs with individual privacy rights, highlighting the ongoing tension between security measures and personal freedoms.
Sources Analysis:
US State Department – The State Department has a political interest in enhancing national security measures and protecting the country from potential threats. As a government agency, its statements may be influenced by official policies and agendas.
Critics of the policy – Opponents of the social media screening policy may have concerns about privacy rights and potential discrimination issues. Their perspectives could be influenced by a desire to protect individual freedoms and civil liberties.
Fact Check:
The proposal to request five years of social media history from foreign tourists is a Verified fact. The information is based on official statements and reports from government sources.
The potential impact on millions of visa applicants is an Unconfirmed claim, as the exact number of individuals affected has not been specified yet.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “US could ask foreign tourists for five-year social media history before entry”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.