US to Check Social Media, Except for Lobbyists Setting Policy
Starting late next year, even travelers from 'trusted' nations like the UK and Japan will have their digital footprints scrutinized before visiting the land of the free. The Department for Homeland Security (DHS) claims this is a necessary pre-emptive measure. One might wonder if this intense digital surveillance also extends to those 'influencing' U.S. policy from within. For instance,
OpenSecrets data shows that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent over $11 million lobbying Congress in 2023 alone, funneling substantial dollars to key politicians. Yet, no one is checking their 'social media' for 'extremist' views that could lead to, say, foreign policy decisions against U.S. interests. It appears the digital dragnet conveniently snags tourists keen on
seeing the Grand Canyon, while those crafting legislation—often after a cozy lunch with well-funded lobbyists—remain beyond surveillance. Bloomberg misses the hypocrisy entirely, treating expanded checks as a mundane administrative update. How many policy decisions that disproportionately affect millions globally have been shaped by 'disinformation' disseminated not on TikTok by a tourist, but in
the halls of Congress by financially incentivized 'partners'? (Spoiler Alert: A lot.)