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News|Donald TrumpUS plans to ask visitors to share 5 years of social media history to enterTourists from 42 countries may soon need to also disclose email accounts, extensive family history and biometrics to enter US.

Visitors eligible to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program may soon be required to provide more extensive personal information to the Department of Homeland Security. This includes details about social media activity, email accounts, and…

BBy Brian ShawDec 11, 20252 min read

Visitors eligible to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program may soon be required to provide more extensive personal information to the Department of Homeland Security. This includes details about social media activity, email accounts, and family background.

According to a notice published on Wednesday in the Federal Register, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is proposing to collect up to five years of social media data from travelers from certain visa-waiver countries.

The proposed requirement would apply to travelers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of 42 countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days. Currently, the ESTA screens applicants automatically, granting travel approval without requiring an in-person interview, unlike standard visa applications.

At present, ESTA applicants are required to provide a limited set of information such as parents’ names, current email address, and any past criminal record. A question regarding social media information was added to the ESTA application in 2016, though it remains optional.

This includes details about social media activity, email accounts, and family background.
Brian Shaw · Thehackingpost

New Rules Also Target Metadata, Email History

The new notice states that the CBP plans to request additional personal information, including telephone numbers used over the past five years and email addresses used over the last ten years. The CBP also intends to add "high-value data fields" to the ESTA application when feasible. These fields may include metadata from electronically submitted photographs, detailed personal information about applicants’ family members, and biometric data such as fingerprints, DNA, and iris scans.

The CBP announcement did not specify the objectives of collecting social media information or the reasons for requesting more information. However, it was noted that this complies with an executive order aimed at enhancing screening to prevent potential national security threats.

Travelers from non-Visa Waiver Program countries are already required to submit social media information, a policy established during the first Trump administration and maintained under President Joe Biden.

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The public has 60 days to submit comments on the proposed changes before they are finalized, as indicated in the Federal Register notice.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.

AI transparency. This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published under human editorial oversight. AI systems can make mistakes. Read how we use AI (EU AI Act, Art. 50).
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