US Visa: Social Media History Becomes "Reputation Border" for Indians

• The US has revived a proposal requiring foreign visa applicants to submit five years of social media history, email addresses, and phone numbers.
• This initiative creates a "reputation border," where online behavior (jokes, memes, comments) becomes a key factor in immigration eligibility.
• The proposal aims to enhance national security by identifying radicalization patterns and affiliations missed by traditional checks.
• The new scrutiny significantly impacts Indians, who are major social media users and a large group of US visa applicants, including students, IT professionals, and tourists.
• Concerns exist regarding algorithmic misinterpretation of satire or cultural nuances, and India's lack of robust data protection laws leaves its citizens exposed.

Why It Matters: US visa changes mean your online history is now a "reputation border" for travel.