The Trump administration is considering a proposal requiring tourists from numerous countries to provide their social media usernames before entering the United States. This proposal comes from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and would make social media activity from the past five years a mandatory component of the traveler screening process, as reported by The New York Times.
Currently, travelers from 42 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, are able to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. If the proposal is implemented, these visitors would be required to include their social media handles when applying through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
This initiative aligns with the administration’s broader immigration policies under President Trump, which have increasingly focused on scrutinizing foreign visitors. Earlier this year, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suggested that social media accounts of individuals applying for green cards, citizenship, and refugee or asylum status could be reviewed. Additionally, the State Department began requesting that visa applicants make their social media accounts public in June. The requirement to provide social media information is a continuation of practices initiated during Trump’s previous term.
The proposed changes would also mandate travelers to submit additional information where applicable, such as email addresses used in the last ten years, phone numbers from the past five years, and extensive information about family members, as well as biometric data. Currently, visitors are asked for their email address, phone number, home address, and emergency contact details.
The public has a 60-day period to comment on this proposal before any final decisions are made.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/842129/trump-admin-us-cbp-social-media-history-travelers