An American Airlines passenger who went viral for an outburst on a flight in July says she now wants to promote mental health and wellness.
Border Control Wants to Peek at Your Facebook Account
27.07.2023 - 18:42 / smartertravel.com
The puns almost write themselves: U.S. Border Control wants to “friend” you. Travelers set to “dislike” new Border Control proposal. And on and on.
But this is no laughing matter. The U.S. Border Control is proposing adding a new line to the form travelers fill out when visiting in the U.S. for under 90 days without a visa. According the Guardian, the line would be added to both the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta) and I-94W forms and would read, “Please enter information associated with your online presence—Provider/Platform—Social media identifier.”
Would it Work?I’ll point out the obvious here: What on earth does that even mean? Furthermore, what sort of valuable information could a traveler possibly provide in response? I have a Facebook account? My Instagram handle is loveshotdogs435?
“It’s unclear if or how the DHS would verify information written on a form before hitting border control, leaving the possibility of false information being put down,” The Guardian points out, “and while the information may be optional, it will likely be difficult to discern what is and isn’t required on the form.”
Related:10 Things You Should Never Do in the Airport Security LineExactly. There’s really no (non-draconian) way to ensure that A) a person provides the right information, like a URL or properly spelled social media handle; and B) a person provides correct or true information. And obviously there’s no reasonable way to tell if a person’s social media profile suggests that they pose a threat before they’ve left the airport and entered the country.
The Office of the Federal Register states that “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.”
Anyone who’s watched the news over the past several years can understand the thinking here. Social media can offer a window into the minds of would-be attackers, but too often only serves to explain those attackers’ motives in hindsight.
If authorities could peer through that window before something bad happens, clearly that would be great (though it does raise a host of serious privacy questions, but that’s a whole other story). But is a line on a customs form an effective way to gain that access?
More from SmarterTravel:
Will Suspending Bag Fees Lead to Shorter Security Lines? Is the TSA’s PreCheck Overpriced and Overcomplicated? The TSA Can Now Force You Through a Body ScannerWe hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
theguardian.com
10.08.2023 / 20:27
‘The police wave us off like old friends’: cross-border kayaking from Montenegro to Albania
“Hello, over there in Albania!”, my kayaking guide Gigo shouts across the water as he paddles along effortlessly. He doesn’t really need to shout, because although we’re in Montenegro, we’re only a few metres away from the Albanians. We’re on the Buna (Bunë) River, a 40km stretch of water which divides the countries and is so tranquil that every sound is amplified, from the dip of our paddles to the rousing tones of the Muslim call to prayer.
insider.com
08.08.2023 / 21:23
I stayed in a 660-square-foot industrial Airbnb inside a warehouse for $70 a night, and I already want to go back
From the moment I decided to stay at an Airbnb inside of a warehouse in Houston, Texas, I knew it would be a memorable experience.
forbes.com
07.08.2023 / 20:25
Cocktail Experts Death & Co Want You To Have A Perfect Picnic
Don’t live near one of Death & Co.’s quickly expanding roster of perfect cocktail bars? No problem. After putting out gorgeous home barware and a line of perfumes inspired by their locations, the folks behind one of the best bars in the world have put together a collection of picnic gear, so you can evoke their eternally cool ambience in the great outdoors.
insider.com
03.08.2023 / 18:23
Traveling to Europe this summer? Airline strikes could impact your trip — here's what to do if your flight is affected
Chaotic schedules, safety issues, and lack of negotiation are a few reasons why aviation unions across Europe are striking.
cntraveler.com
02.08.2023 / 17:19
15 Long Distance Sex Toys Your Partner Can Control From Anywhere
Long distance couples, meet long distance sex toys. If you've ever spent an extended period of time away from your partner or lover, you probably know how difficult it can be to maintain intimacy when erotic satisfaction and sensual touch are not provided—at no fault but that of the miles and time zones between you both. Yet thanks to sex tech, proximity doesn't need to be the end all be all of sexual connection to your person. Remote access to erotic sensation and unwaveringly great orgasms are not only a thing, they've become a staple in teledildonics—receiving and transmitting intimate touch through the internet—as the market demands more ways to be close to our partners at a distance (USD 31.4 billion was the sextech market size in 2022, it's only growing). Meaning: remote access sex toys are here to stay. TSA, be warned.
insider.com
02.08.2023 / 08:05
An annoyed American Airlines pilot is going viral for lecturing passengers on how to behave on his flight: 'Nobody wants to hear your video'
A video of an American Airlines pilot dressing down his passengers has gone viral after his speech was posted on Instagram last week.
insider.com
28.07.2023 / 16:49
A first-time flier says she never wants to get on a plane again after her flight had to make a dramatic maneuver to avoid an in-air collision with a jet
This Kentucky woman says she never wants to fly again after a "terrifying" near-miss incident aboard an Allegiant Air flight over Florida.
insider.com
28.07.2023 / 15:27
Photos show how wildly out of control tourists are this summer
Summer 2023 is turning out to be one of the wildest for tourists on record.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:50
Spirit Has the Profits. Now It Wants the Love
Could Spirit, the airline everybody loves to hate, become a bit less hateful? If the company’s new CEO has his way, it will do just that.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:45
Suavs Review: The Slip-On Shoes You’ll Never Want to Take Off
Ask anyone in the office, I wear these shoes at least four times a week. They are incredibly comfortable, stylish, trans-seasonal, and go with almost any outfit. What more could you want in a travel shoe?
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:42
Airbnb Wants You to Sleep in a Shark Tank for a Night
Airbnb is at it again. The home rental company that awarded a romantic stay for two in the Paris catacombs last fall is now offering up a free night’s stay inside a shark tank alongside 35 new toothy friends.