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U.S. seeks to ramp up social media data collection. Here’s what to know about Homeland Security’s plans

U.S. immigration officials are asking the public and federal agencies to comment on a proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump.The March 5 notice raised alarms from immigration and free speech advocates because it appears to expand the government’s reach in social media surveillance to people already vetted and in the U.S. legally, such as asylum seekers, green card, and citizenship applicants—and not just those applying to enter the country. That said, social media monitoring by immigration officials has been a practice for over a decade, since at least the second Obama administration and ramping up under Trump’s first term.Below are some questions and answers on what the new proposal means and how it might expand social media surveillance.What is the proposal?The Department of Homeland Security issued a 60-day notice asking for public commentary on its p…