Summary

• A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a rule that requires visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts to the U.S. government.

• The rule, which went into effect in 2019, applies to visa applicants from all countries.

• The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, two U.S.-based documentary film organizations, argued that the rule violated the First Amendment rights of visa applicants.

• It’s unclear if the plaintiffs plan to appeal the ruling.

Additional Details

• The rule requires visa applicants to disclose their social media identifiers, including pseudonymous accounts, for the past five years.

• The plaintiffs argued that the rule would chill free speech and association, as visa applicants would be less likely to express themselves on social media if they knew that the government could see their posts.

• The ruling is a reminder of the challenges faced by people who want to protect their privacy online.