Scandinavian travellers to the US could be denied entry unless they hand over social media passwords, mobil phone contacts and other personal information. The measures are being considered as part of the Trump administration’s extreme vetting policy.

According to the Wall Street Journal, tourists from Scandinavia and other countries may have to reveal personal data, disclose financial information and face ‘detailed ideological questioning’. US citizens have rights against unlawful searches at the border, so the measures will not apply to them. The US customs and border patrol told the Guardian: “All international travellers arriving to the US are subject to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection. “This inspection may include electronic devices such as computers, disks, drives, tapes, mobile phones and other communication devices, cameras, music and other media players and any other electronic or digital devices.

“Keeping America safe and enforcing our nation’s laws in an increasingly digital world depends on our ability to lawfully examine all materials entering the US.” Digital civil rights campaign group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), told the newspaper: “If a foreign visitor refuses a border agent’s demand to unlock their digital device, provide the device password, or provide social media information, and the agent responds by denying entry, the foreign visitor may have little legal recourse.”

One technology lawyer, Susan Hall, head of technology and intellectual property team partner at law firm Clarke Willmott told the Guardian: “In the short to medium term, I think the answer is going to be avoiding all but absolutely essential travel to the United States.”