The US wants to check Chinese visitors' social media profiles

The U.S. border control is seeking to check Chinese visitors' social media profiles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to publish a proposal asking travellers from China to disclose what social media platforms they use, and what their handles are, according to Politico.

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Holders of business and visitor visas will be affected by the move — amounting to almost 3.6 million applicants per year, the proposal estimates.

However, travellers can choose not to disclose the information, and will still have their requests processed "without a negative interpretation or inference."

The move is meant to increase security as well as to "facilitate legitimate travel."

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The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal before it will be formally considered.

Popular social media websites such as Facebook are blocked in China, with the majority of Chinese citizens using social media sites such as Weibo and Renren.

A CBP spokeswoman said that travellers could submit social media information about "any platform" that they used.

The U.S. had already started scanning social media accounts last year, for people entering the country through its Visa Waiver Program. A majority of the travellers affected had been from Europe.

Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump had issued an executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the gates.

This was later overturned, though a revised version of the order targeting the same seven countries is due to be issued soon.

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