US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Trump Administration Proposes Mandatory Social Media Disclosure for All Foreign Tourists
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to require visa-exempt travelers to submit five years of social media data and biometric information to enhance security vetting.
- Published on December 10, U.S. Customs and Border Protection filed a proposal to expand social-media checks for visitors using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization and the Visa Waiver Program.
- Officials say the proposal seeks to strengthen pre-arrival vetting and threat detection, building on recent Trump administration expansions including USCIS assessments of anti-American or terrorist views.
- Under the draft, applicants would have to provide social‑media identifiers, past email and phone histories, family details, biometrics including selfie, fingerprints, iris scans, possible DNA, and use the ESTA mobile app instead of the website, affecting the $40 ESTA fee and two‑year authorisation.
- The rule opens a 60‑day public comment period as a coalition of more than 20 tourism and travel businesses warn it could deter millions, while the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Fragomen caution it may chill speech and delay authorizations.
- If approved, CBP could phase in the changes gradually over weeks and months, Fragomen said, and the rule could affect the major influx of visitors expected for the men's football World Cup next year.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
343 Articles
343 Articles
Statements may in the future be used as a basis for stopping people from entering the country if they are perceived as critical of the United States, according to a legal analyst.
·Copenhagen, Denmark
Read Full Article
Proposed Rules Would Require Foreign Tourists To United States Provide Social Media Activity For 5 Years
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed new rules that would require foreign tourists to the United States to provide their social media activity from the past five years. “In order to comply with the January 2025 Executive Order 14161 (Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats), CBP is adding social media as a mandatory data element for an ESTA application. The data …
Coverage Details
Total News Sources343
Leaning Left61Leaning Right46Center108Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 28%
C 50%
R 22%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
