saizai

Also to note: the social media question is NOT marked as optional on the I-94W; it's mandatory according to the header. See I94W PDF below.

In their FAQ, and supporting statement, they only claim to be marking it as optional on the ESTA application. Note the dodge — they are not claiming it is optional on the I-94W.

You can comment here until the end of the month:
https://www.federalregister.gov/arti...-and-i-94w-and
https://www.federalregister.gov/arti...009-electronic

DHS-2016-0014-0001
DHS-2016-0029-0001
DHS-2016-0054-0001

Here are the documents CBP posted in response to comments to date. They're also collected in my legal research archive, so you don't need to download to view.

OMB update (note information collection list & supporting docs; pulled out major ones below)

CBP Form I94W.pdf (with "social media" question)
ESTA Screen shots August 2016 with Social Media mock up.pptx
ESTA Social Media Supporting Statement (8_31_16) FINAL.docx - has specific responses to various public comments made, including privacy, ineffectiveness, definition of "social media", etc
ESTA Social Media FAQ (8_31_16) FINAL.docx
FR 60 extension with social media.pdf
1651-0111 2016 FR 30 Extension with social media.pdf
All Combined comments for 60 day FRN on ESTA Social Media.pdf

chollie

You know what's scary about rules like this? They're proposed hand-in-hand with a zero-tolerance implementation.

I can manage full disclosure of every country I've visited. I can manage full disclosure of everything in my bags.

I'm quite sure I can't provide full disclosure of every email or other account I've had - there's no way I could remember them all, especially as the internet has grown and evolved and I've changed my habits.

I wonder if 'social media' includes news sites that require account access (free or paid) to post or to view extra content.

GUWonder

Interestingly enough the US State Department already sometimes uses Google to look up named US passport applicants when dealing with passport applications. Sometimes this includes checking up on social media identifiers, and sometimes it includes checking up on news searches for a name (partial or whole).

jphripjah

Why would the USA look up social media accounts of US citizens seeking passports? And what is your basis for saying they do this?

GUWonder

I know it's done sometimes, as I've seen it done sometimes during the US passport issuance process.

Why was it done? To try to validate identity of the applicant and/or their relatives, for example.

For a public example, there has been at least one time this year where the Google search and social media info was used to go after a US citizen who submitted a fraudulent US passport application.

http://www.fosters.com/news/20160920...s-bail-revoked mentions a Google search being done.

GUWonder

I found some more public info indicating the validity of what I know to be part of State's historical actions.

"In addition, passport specialists may employ commercial databases and other tools during the adjudication process to assist in confirming an applicant’s identity or citizenship."

http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/662921.pdf

Given the mix of stuff that people put up online and of the use of FRT, the playground of life is more interesting than ever before for the government to not only monitor and measure foreigners but also to do much the same to citizens.

"You have been weighed. You have been measured. And you absolutely... have been found wanting."

BH62

Is your FlyerTalk handle/membership considered a social media app? LOL.

chollie

I've wondered the same thing.

I've lost count of early abandoned email accounts and 'trash' email accounts - accounts set up by me, but not under my name or with any accurate details. If someone really wanted to invest time and money, I'm sure all of those accounts could be linked back to me, but I would have to truthfully say I can't fully disclose what I can't remember.

GUWonder

I would say it is a bulletin board membership rather than a social media membership, but I can see some others claiming it to be otherwise.

Intent matters sometimes, and lack of recollection/memory ability doesn't usually make a strong case to evidence intent.

BH62

Actually, with tongue somewhat in cheek, I was fantasizing about possible fall-out for those FTers who've posted "verging-on-derogatory" comments about TSA procedures, check-point experiences, or TSA personnel.

GUWonder

The government already has received my critiques of DHS, and yet I keep getting PreCheck on my boarding passes.

Kiwi Flyer

At least you are eligible

GUWonder

True that. Amusingly, when it comes to my non-GE, non-dual-citizen EU citizen relatives in their adult working years, they seem to have PreCheck rates that are sky-high last year and this year -- speaking of those whom have never even held airline frequent flyer elite status. Apparently being associated with me is not entirely a bad thing.

saizai

I know for a fact — I saw it mentioned in records I obtained about myself through FOIA/PA requests — that TSA monitors my FT posts.

Boggie Dog

I hope TSA monitors my postings, I don't want any misunderstanding about my opinion of all things TSA.