The U.S. State Department has introduced a stricter vetting process for F, M, and J visa applicants, now mandating public access to their social media profiles. Officials state the move is meant to aid identity verification and national security assessments.

Privacy advocates have strongly criticized the policy, likening the U.S. to authoritarian regimes for forcing applicants to go public. Sophia Cope from the Electronic Frontier Foundation called it "an outrage... Government social media surveillance invades privacy and chills freedom of speech". Meanwhile, Gregory Nojeim of the Center for Democracy & Technology warned the vetting could penalize individuals for expressing political opinions or criticizing U.S. policy.

Technically, applicants may refuse - but doing so dramatically increases their risk of visa denial, as omissions could be deemed evasive. The move reflects growing concern within the U.S. government regarding foreign students and exchange visitors, though lawmakers and universities warn it may deter talent, undermine academic exchange, and chill free expression globally.