Foreign Visitors to the US May Need to Reveal Five Years of Social Media Activity

In a significant shift, travelers from numerous nations, including the United Kingdom, might soon be required to disclose their social media history spanning the past five years to gain entry into the United States. This proposal has been introduced by American authorities as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration regulations.

This new requirement would pertain to individuals from various countries that are permitted to enter the US for up to 90 days visa-free, provided they complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.

Since taking office again in January, President Donald Trump has prioritized stricter border controls, emphasizing national security as a fundamental justification for these measures.

Experts suggest that this initiative could deter potential tourists and infringe upon their digital freedoms. Anticipating a surge in foreign visitors next year, the US is preparing for the men’s soccer World Cup, which it will co-host with Canada and Mexico, as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The proposal was submitted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the agency. Reports indicate that this information was published in the Federal Register, the official publication for the US government.

According to the proposal, individuals applying for ESTA will need to provide their social media details from the past five years, although specifics regarding the required information have not yet been disclosed.

The current ESTA application asks for relatively minimal information and requires a one-time fee of $40 (£30). It is available to citizens of approximately 40 nations, including the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, and Japan, allowing them to travel to the US multiple times within a two-year timeframe.

Alongside the collection of social media details, the new document suggests obtaining applicants’ phone numbers and email addresses used within the last five and ten years, respectively, as well as further information about their family members.

The text references an executive order issued by Trump in January titled ‘Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.’ Previously, the Trump administration announced that it would scrutinize social media accounts during the vetting process for foreign nationals applying for student visas or H1B visas for skilled labor.

The State Department has indicated that it will perform ‘online presence’ assessments for applicants and their dependents, requiring that privacy settings on all social media accounts be made public to facilitate this evaluation.

According to a notice on the US Embassy and Consulate’s website in Mexico, specific visa applicants will be required to list all social media usernames or handles from platforms they have utilized in the past five years. The notice warns that failure to provide this information may result in both current and future visa denials.

A senior official from the State Department remarked regarding the student visa policy, ‘American citizens expect their government to take every possible measure to enhance our nation’s safety, and that is precisely what the Trump Administration is committed to achieving daily.’

Officials have been instructed to look out for individuals ‘who endorse, assist, or support designated foreign terrorists and other national security threats, or who engage in unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence.’

In alignment with the administration’s overarching strategy to strengthen border security, officials have recently indicated that an existing travel ban, which currently affects 19 nations in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, could be expanded.

This announcement followed a shooting incident involving two National Guard members in Washington DC, with an Afghan national identified as the suspect.

The new proposal concerning ESTA data collection for tourists invites public feedback for a period of 60 days. Sophia Cope from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights organization, criticized the initiative, stating it could ‘exacerbate civil liberties violations.’

Meanwhile, immigration law firm Fragomen has suggested that the changes might lead to longer wait times for ESTA approvals. Experts have previously noted that the travel policy modifications initiated under Trump have adversely affected the American tourism sector.

Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council reported that the US was the only country among 184 analyzed that is projected to see a decrease in international visitor spending by 2025.

Other policies from the Trump administration have similarly impacted tourism, with many Canadians opting to avoid travel to the US as a protest against Trump’s tariffs. October marked the tenth consecutive month of declining Canadian visitors to the US, a demographic that historically constituted about a quarter of all international arrivals, contributing over $20 billion (£15.1 billion) annually, according to the US Travel Association.