Harris raises alarm over US vetting of Irish students' social media accounts

Irish Examiner

3 hours ago

Tánaiste Simon Harris has raised concerns over the vetting of social media accounts belonging to Irish students planning to travel to the US.
The US Embassy in Dublin confirmed that students applying for educational and exchange visas will now be required to allow officials to review their online activity.
In a statement on Monday, the embassy said a 'US visa is a privilege, not a right,' and that applicants must provide all social media usernames and handles used across any platform over the past five years, so the accounts can be reviewed.
Following the announcement, Mr Harris said he is 'very concerned' about the expanded vetting.
"While US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities and I fully respect the administration's right to determine their own immigration policy, this decision has understandably caused deep concern, confusion and apprehension for young Irish people who may wish to travel to the United States," Mr Harris said.
He described Ireland's relationship with the US as 'deep and enduring.'
"Importantly, it also sees thousands of people travel in both directions every year. The intergenerational, people-to-people relationship between the US and Ireland begins with the opportunities that both countries afford to young people. It is important that we work to protect this," he added.
Mr Harris said he has asked officials to engage directly with the US Embassy in Dublin and with the wider US administration to provide further clarity on the new arrangements, particularly for those due to travel in the coming months.
"I also asked my officials to engage with third-level institutions and organisations that provide services for students who wish to travel with the United States. This will be with the clear aim of providing as much clarity as possible on the impact of these new arrangements, relevant guidance and furthermore assessing what possible supports can be provided to young people who wish to travel to the United States in the coming months.
"Finally, with the new US Ambassador to Ireland due to formally take up his post next month, I intend to raise this matter with him as part of a wide-ranging engagement on issues that matter to both the US and Ireland as we seek to further strengthen our longstanding diplomatic relations," he said.
On Monday, the Taoiseach described the measures as 'excessive.'
'I believe those measures by the United States are excessive,' he told reporters on Monday in Dublin.
'I don't approve of them. I don't agree with them. One of the great things in the world, in the modern world, has been the capacity for young people to travel and mobility is important.
'The US is probably one of the more difficult countries to to get into, at times. There is an issue around freedom of speech, but it's more the atmosphere that's created by these measures, the fear and the anxiety that young people will now experience travelling."
Ireland's national students' union said the measures represent a disproportionate intrusion into personal lives and digital privacy, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and online surveillance.