EXPLAINERNews|PoliticsWhy is Trump demanding travellers’ social media handles; how will it work?Visitors from ‘visa waiver’ countries will have to provide a five-year social media history to enter the US.
The United States is proposing a requirement for certain visitors to disclose their social media history from the past five years. This initiative, introduced by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was announced in the Federal Register and is…
The United States is proposing a requirement for certain visitors to disclose their social media history from the past five years. This initiative, introduced by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was announced in the Federal Register and is intended for travelers from visa-waiver countries.
The proposal mandates that travelers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the US Visa Waiver Program provide up to five years of social media history. This is aligned with Executive Order 14161, signed in January 2025, which aims to enhance vetting processes for foreign nationals.
This requirement targets travelers from 42 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows short-term stays in the US without a visa. These countries include the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia, and others. Currently, the ESTA process does not require in-person interviews and collects limited information from applicants.
Upon implementation, visitors will need to provide CBP with their social media handles from the past five years. However, passwords and login credentials will not be required. Additional personal information, such as phone numbers and email addresses used over the past five and ten years, respectively, will also be requested.
The proposal outlines the intention to incorporate "high-value data fields" into the ESTA application, including metadata, family details, and biometric information such as fingerprints and iris data.
The United States is proposing a requirement for certain visitors to disclose their social media history from the past five years.
The timeline for the proposal's enactment remains unspecified. However, a 60-day public comment period is open for feedback before finalization.
Since 2019, travelers from non-Visa Waiver Program countries have been required to disclose social media handles. This proposal extends existing measures, initially introduced during President Trump's administration and maintained under President Biden.
The CBP and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) aim to broaden social media disclosure requirements, potentially affecting applicants for various immigration benefits.
Privacy and Freedom of Speech Concerns
If approved, the proposal would significantly impact privacy by mandating the disclosure of social media handles, phone numbers, email addresses, and biometric data. This raises concerns about online anonymity and potential surveillance for non-US citizens.
The proposed expansion could also influence freedom of speech, as it might discourage foreigners from expressing themselves online or visiting the US.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.