We knew this was coming, but now the clock is running. From Privacy International:"Yesterday the Trump Administration announced a proposed change in policy for travellers to the U.S. It applies to the powers of data collection by the Customs and Border Police (CBP)."
"If the proposed changes are adopted after the 60-day consultation, then millions of travellers to the U.S. will be forced to use a U.S. government mobile phone app, submit their social media from the last five years and email addresses used in the last ten years, including of family members. They’re also proposing the collection of DNA."
PI linked to and summarized a Federal Register entry describing the proposed requirements:
-All visitors must submit ‘their social media from the last 5 years’
-ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applications will include ‘high value data fields’, ‘when feasible’
‘telephone numbers used in the last five years’
-‘email addresses used in the last ten years’
-‘family number telephone numbers (sic) used in the last five years’
-biometrics – face, fingerprint, DNA, and iris
-business telephone numbers used in the last five years
-business email addresses used in the last ten years.privacyinternational.org/news-…
The Federal Register entry says comments are encouraged and
must be submitted (no later than
February 9, 2026) to be assured of
considerationFederal Register entry: govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-202…
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christianity4africans
in reply to 🌴 Seph 💭 👾 • • •We cannot speak for all Africans, but in various countries of Africa, we think it is fine, and we hope Europe copies USA. The reason is that we believe there is a brain drain and capital flight from Africa to the West. So this kind of thing the USA is doing will stop, or at least reduce it.
Moreover, China and South America (Brazil) plus BRICS+ countries are a better association for Africans.
In any case, even if Africans still want to study in USA universities, there is e-learning. That can be the case too for those who want European universities.
But overall, many in Africa think it is good for #Africa.
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Andrew Pam, 🌴 Seph 💭 👾, Coaster and mndblm like this.