Reactions as U.S. Embassy in Mali Demands Social Media Disclosure for Visa Applicants

The United States Embassy in Mali has issued a new directive, sparking reactions from Malian applicants. Recall that the U.S recently rolled out a new visa directive, in a policy shift affecting multiple countries, including Mali. The new directive now requires applicants for certain non-immigrant visas, specifically F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) categories, to set all their social media accounts to ‘public’ as part of the visa application process, AESInfo reported.

According to the Embassy’s statement, this measure aims to “facilitate the necessary verification to establish the identity and admissibility of applicants to the United States.”  This has led to reactions from both observers and potential applicants. They pointed out that this requirement raises fundamental questions about privacy, freedom of expression, and the true motivations behind such a policy.

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Some noted that by publicising their profiles, applicants would expose themselves to an in-depth review of their opinions, affiliations, and online activities, well beyond what is traditionally considered relevant for a visa application. At the same time, the policy is not unique to Mali. It is part of a broader implementation by the U.S. Department of State, affecting visa applicants in many countries.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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