Details leaked of "GOST" program used to profile the social media posts of US visa applicants

dantheclamman@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 163 points –
Inside ICE’s Database for Finding ‘Derogatory’ Online Speech
404media.co
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This, warrantless searches, patriot act shenanigans, endless other revelations and sadly no one cares

I feel helpless to do much against it. Even the best effort seems to prolong the inevitable. I know I'm not helping, but I try not to exacerbate.

Appreciate you speaking up!

Please contact your representatives local and national representatives I know it seems like screaming into the void, but it’s the best thing I think everyone can do rather quickly especially with the help of the eff and aclu.

Yeah I mean I basically just try to convince people I know IRL and vote against anyone I can who supports/voted for this stuff. Definitely sucks but do what you can.

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In this particular case it's because visa applicants aren't US citizens, so they're subject to immigration law which is massively intrusive.

My gf applied for an American tourist visa and had to show bank statements, explain where she's going and why, get a letter from her employer showing her job is stable, and report every name, job, degree, and home she'd lived in for the last number of years. It was intense.

But we Americans probably want this level of scrutiny because once foreigners are on US soil it's tough to find the ones who disappear and dont leave when the time's up.

Social media may very well reveal false visa application details.

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Who would have thought that the government had such ideas when they started to ask for visa applicants' social media accounts?

Usa goes like:

"If you want to visit me at my house, don't forget to bring your diary, let me read it first, and WOE TO YOU if I do not like the tone in which it is written!"

Not to say I agree with it, but public posts you choose to make to social media are just that, public. Out of all the things they likely put people through, that one seems like a no brainer.

that one seems like a no brainer.

What do you mean?

I mean for them to search social media public posts to see if someone’s crazy.

Again not taking a side in any of it. But if your goal is to investigate people, not using their posts seems like “leaving money on the table”