Washington, June 24 (RHC)-- New U.S. State Department rules are now in effect that require all U.S. visa applicants to submit their social media information for the past five years.  The information would give authorities access to applicants’ photos, locations, among other personal data often shared on social media platforms.

When the Donald Trump administration first proposed the new rules last year, the ACLU warned that the measure "will infringe on the rights of immigrants and U.S. citizens by chilling freedom of speech and association, particularly because people will now have to wonder if what they say online will be misconstrued or misunderstood by a government official.”