Summary
The U.S. government plans to require foreign tourists from many countries to provide five years of social media history when applying to visit. This change is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to increase vetting for people entering the U.S. The requirement targets travelers who normally use the Visa Waiver Program, which allows entry without a traditional visa.
Key Facts
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice about this new social media requirement.
- This requirement is for tourists who apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
- The Visa Waiver Program lets people from certain countries visit the U.S. without a visa, but they need an ESTA.
- ESTA applicants will have to provide social media history for the past five years.
- The plan is open for a 60-day period for public comments.
- The proposed changes include collecting additional information like phone numbers, IP addresses, and biometric data.
- There's a history of similar proposals, like a July policy on foreign students' social media.
- A digital rights group criticized similar requirements for risking privacy and exposing personal information.
