In a world controlled by things such as social media and the Internet of Things, rapid change is inevitable. With advancements in technology, we are becoming more dependent on our phones and other devices, keeping a lot of our personal information stored in them.

Questions arise as many wonder what the next steps might be, as the line between the digital and physical world gradually continues to disappear. Policies and rules will be put in place, and we must watch and see what this will mean for our desire to keep our personal privacy, because according to many, in today’s changing world, ‘personal privacy’ might not be possible.

The U.S. Government has been taking the steps to look towards starting social media screenings, particularly for those who are coming into the country whether as visitors or residents. The idea is to have customs officers take and search through them, as those wishing to enter the country must unlock their phones and other connected devices that contain data for it to be possible to do so.

The concept is entirely legal, as said by foreign officers, for example, Canada’s public safety minister office, who claims it is expected of a country to want to search through devices, according to an article by Forbes.

Purposes behind the screens include the idea that a terrorist could store information about attacks or conspiracies in their social media, therefore making it possible for these screenings to catch those suspects in advance and provide a brand new platform to collect information about them from. However counter-critics also state that as soon as they are informed, it will be highly unlikely that a terrorist would even bring a Wi-Fi connected device, mobile device, or any other object that could present data about their whereabouts or intentions.

It is also important to consider that if the U.S. does begin to practice these screens, there is a big possibility that a lot of other countries around the world will too. This could all result in the mass-storing of our personal information in foreign government’s databases, which in turn, could result in the same basic principle: little privacy because of the global effects of the Internet and its advancements.