Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 174 posts

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

#111

Post by hx87 »

benevol wrote: post #107
TheSoftwareGuy wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>There are no time limits. Yes there are, eventually you need to make a decision about whether to let this person into the country

Here's how it works: Data (even encrypted data) is being collected and stored today. It is decrypted/made sense of whenever technology has reached the required maturity. At that moment, we become 100% open books. And you may feel that at the border (or elsewhere).

By that time, open books may be less useful than the effort it takes to open them.

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

#112

Post by kafkaesq »

ipsin wrote: post #73

This is disturbing despite it being "optional", because it's a place for border agents to push in the entry interview. "I noticed you didn't fill out the question regarding online identity. Do you have an online identity?" Sure, you can (and should) tell the agent that's all personal information, but that may also lead to further hassles and delays.

I noticed you didn't fill out the question regarding online identity. Do you have an online identity?"

And the punchline? Making "materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representations" to federal officials to questions like these can (per 18 U.S.C. § 1001) -- and the way things are going in this country, soon enough most likely will be used obtain felony convictions plus jail time against those so audaciously naive as to believe... this sort thing could never happen here:

Making false statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001) is the common name for the United States federal crime laid out in Section 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code, which generally prohibits knowingly and willfully making false or fraudulent statements, or concealing information, in "any matter within the jurisdiction" of the federal government of the United States, even by mere denial. A number of notable people have been convicted under the section, including Martha Stewart, Rod Blagojevich, Scooter Libby, Bernard Madoff, and Jeffrey Skilling.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Making_false_statements

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

#114

Post by pm24601 »

The problem arises if someone says they have no social media account but really do.

If someone has a distinct online presence - i.e. a journalist - they will be targeted.

If someone has twitter, facebook, etc. installed on their phone, they will be discovered for having lied.

Since gmail is tied to G+, if someone has gmail - they must have a social media account. Did that person use gmail as part of the visa application process - for example to get notification of the visa status?

Can the Border Patrol, http://www.skipease.com/search/pipl/ to tie that person to their social media accounts?

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

#115

Post by droithomme »

michaelvoz wrote: post #109
anc84 wrote: post #97

> "Are you a terrorist or affiliate with a terrorist organization?" Sir, yes, sir! I was part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, sir!

Edgy. But really, your comment just cheapens the discussion.

I disagree with you that his comment cheapens the discussion. I do think that your comment cheapens it. His point that the US military, with its illegitimate wars, torture practices, and widespread murder of civilians, is reasonably considered to be a terrorist organization is a reasonable and good comment which advances the discussion intelligently and productively. The fact is that US military are in fact terrorists, as is the citizenry that supports this terrorist regime with tax money. So the honest and true response for US citizens at least would be to answer yes to that question.

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

#116

Post by [deleted] »

Karunamon wrote: post #93
throwawaysocks wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The term "terrorist" doesn't have a single fixed meaning. It's context-dependent. Pretending it's not context-dependent willfully misinterprets the speaker. A lot of words function like this. E.g., "believer". When a christian asks me if I'm a believer I might say yes. But then I'd probably say no if a wiccan asked me the same question. Obviously, that doesn't mean that everyone (or no one) is a believer once you fix…

While slippery slope might technically be a logical fallacy, it seems to be the MO of every government everywhere.

[deleted]

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

#118

Post by ProfChronos »

pascalmemories wrote: post #75
ProfChronos wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed Israel does it, but only for Arabic or Muslim tourists that present certain characteristics - political engagement for instance. So it does exist but it's really not mainstream

> Israel does it, but only for Arabic or Muslim tourists Arabic is a language and speaking it is absolutely no guarantee that you are a muslim. Lots of non-muslims speak Arabic both inside and outside Israel, including a significant number of Israeli Jews who routinely engage in good mannered and friendly commerce and friendship with fellow Israeli citizens who are Muslim or Druze or Bedouin. Being bi-lingual Arabic…

I said Arabic OR Muslim because they are different. Maybe it would be useful for you to start reading properly what people write. I said Arabic people and not people speaking Arabic because that is completely different. Most of my friends in Tel-Aviv speak arabic or understand it because Arabs represent a significant proportion of Israel's population/residents. I said "only for Arabic OR Muslim tourists" because they are treated differently at the borders. Just go to Ben Gurion airport or the Wall and you will see that Israeli soldiers are asked to pay special attention to Arabic and Muslims. That has nothing to do with racism or anything like that: they just know that there has never been a terrorist attack conducted by a white Christian guy. What I said is based only on facts [1] and what my friends in the army told me. Because, yes, I lived in Tel-Aviv for 2 years so: yes I know a bit about Israel / no, I'm not really the guy who is going to discriminate Israel. Next time keep your mouth shut. Really.

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

#119

Post by ProfChronos »

ProfChronos wrote: post #118
pascalmemories wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Israel does it, but only for Arabic or Muslim tourists Arabic is a language and speaking it is absolutely no guarantee that you are a muslim. Lots of non-muslims speak Arabic both inside and outside Israel, including a significant number of Israeli Jews who routinely engage in good mannered and friendly commerce and friendship with fellow Israeli citizens who are Muslim or Druze or Bedouin. Being bi-lingual Arabic…

I said Arabic OR Muslim because they are different. Maybe it would be useful for you to start reading properly what people write. I said Arabic people and not people speaking Arabic because that is completely different. Most of my friends in Tel-Aviv speak arabic or understand it because Arabs represent a significant proportion of Israel's population/residents. I said "only for Arabic OR Muslim tourists" because they…

[1] https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/middle-east/israel...

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

#120

Post by nacs »

akerro wrote: post #55
appleflaxen wrote: post #47

what an orwellian fucking nightmare. no better reason to delete your facebook account than this right here, folks.

and LinkedIn, Google (G+, Gmail, Analytics), Hacker News, Steam...

> Steam

"It says here you've been affiliated with a "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" where you were a terrorist.."

Post reply on HN