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How information on Social Networks can affect your application

MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
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I've seen several posts on the internet that IRCC is using more and more information about applicant available on social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook for their background searches. I wonder how they can use it officially against an application, since information on social networks is not always accurate, and many people even never care about their FB profile.
 

Buletruck

VIP Member
May 18, 2015
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If it’s publicly available infotmation, why wouldn’t they use it? Doubt it’s the only information they use in determinations. And if it’s your social media account, why would you post inaccurate information about yourself to begin with?
 

MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
50
0
If it’s publicly available infotmation, why wouldn’t they use it? Doubt it’s the only information they use in determinations. And if it’s your social media account, why would you post inaccurate information about yourself to begin with?
The point here is information on social network is not official. Like my FB account: I did not put any information in my profile (I don't want to share my personal information), but (I think) FB analyzed my activities then put me "From Berlin" which is absolutely wrong. And in many cases, people want to make fun so they put something like "Went to Life University", "Worked as President of Banana Republik". Should they be responsible for that?
 

Bs65

VIP Member
Mar 22, 2016
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People should really be aware that governments in general, not just Canada, are becoming much more inquisitive about an individuals social media presence .

Whether putting things up as a joke would have any real impact who knows but ultimately an individual is responsible for what they chose to show or not in any publically displayed info and have to accept any consequences.

After all CBSA as well as many other countries can exercise the right at the border to look at any individuals phone, laptop or tablet so always advisable to house clean just in case or correct any information joke or not.. At least as far know Canada has not reached the point yet as with the US where for certain applications they ask for social media details, optionally at the moment but who knows where the paranoia will end.

As for Facebook well there are multiple public discussions recently on how they may or may not manipulate or share data, a whole different discussion but once the info is out there official or not it becomes a hard job to disprove it so best not to feed in first place.
 
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MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
50
0
Any information about yourself which you release or make available to general public becomes public information. There are no rights required to use public information to evaluate decisions(not talking about reproducing in any form), however such decisions may not be completely based on such information.

But yo if you got nothing to hide and did nothing wrong why you worried anyways.
My FB account: I did not put any information in my profile (I don't want to share my personal information), but somehow FB put me "From Berlin" which is absolutely wrong (I think (not sure) FB analyzed my activities then thought that I am from Berlin). It could ring a false alarm if IRCC relies on FB.
 

MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
50
0
People should really be aware that governments in general, not just Canada, are becoming much more inquisitive about an individuals social media presence .

Whether putting things up as a joke would have any real impact who knows but ultimately an individual is responsible for what they chose to show or not in any publically displayed info and have to accept any consequences.

After all CBSA as well as many other countries can exercise the right at the border to look at any individuals phone, laptop or tablet so always advisable to house clean just in case or correct any information joke or not.. At least as far know Canada has not reached the point yet as with the US where for certain applications they ask for social media details, optionally at the moment but who knows where the paranoia will end.

As for Facebook well there are multiple public discussions recently on how they may or may not manipulate or share data, a whole different discussion but once the info is out there official or not it becomes a hard job to disprove it so best not to feed in first place.
I did not feed FB with my personal information, but FB speculated and stamped me with false information. I guess governments also need to be more and more aware that AI is not really such intelligent yet.
 

MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
50
0
You need to review your settings in your FB account. They only post such information with your consent. Just delete your account or change settings to hid everything if you that concerned. However, I think if anything they will be interested in LinkedIn or similar.
It's just my opinion.
I know how to manage my account. I only use it as an example to show that information on social network should not be used as an official proof against an application.
 

MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
50
0
Well that's your opinion and that's why you need to manage what information you want to disclose publicly.
Ever watched the show Border Control or similar ones? The officers use Google more than you would think to find information. And I don't blame them for using any information they can get access to, as we have appointed them to protect our borders.
Finding information and officially using it against an application are different things. Not all information found on internet are accurate.
 

MWIN

Star Member
Aug 12, 2017
50
0
Information found in open search is a flag to dig deeper if its a matter of concern and I am sure the CBSA guys are trained enough to filter information. If someone is seeking entry to Canada or US or any country, they should be in "full control" of their application and information they present to the public or to the agencies involved.
At the end, such an officer has the final authority to decide what to use in favor or against an applicant as entry in to a different country than citizenship/PR is a privilege and not a right.
That's all I wish!
 

Buletruck

VIP Member
May 18, 2015
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Keep in mind, when you submit your application you provide the government of Canada (or which ever country you are applying to) the authorization to exercise whatever method/source they choose or is available to them to validate your application. If social media or travel history or any other stream of information they have access to is something you don’t want to share, simply don’t apply. It’s not about being fair, it’s about protecting Canadian interests.
 
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EstherBarros

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I don't think one needs to be paranoid about posting jokes online- CBSA and the IRCC officers are not just sitting there waiting to screw you over ridiculous things. However, if you have publicly posted pictured of yourself somewhere else in the world when you were claiming to have physical presence in Canada at the same time, that might make them dig deeper and ask for further proof that you were in Canada.
If you post online that you were in some sort of altercation with someone, or the law, or whatever, and that information was made public by you, but you didn't disclose that in your application, then they may take a closer look. If you gave employment history in your application, then your Linkedin says something completely different (different countries, different employers, different length of employment), then they may want to investigate, reach out to the employers listed in the application, ask you for letters from the employers or whatever.
They will not be like "well he's is a Trump supporter, there's not way im approving their TRV". We have to trust the process.
 
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canuck_in_uk

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Finding information and officially using it against an application are different things. Not all information found on internet are accurate.
IRCC isn't going to look at where Facebook says you are from. They are going to look at work history, education, physical location history etc. to see that it all matches what you have stated in your app.