U.S. May Require All Tourists to Disclose Five Years of Social-Media History Under New Plan

The administration of U.S. President Donald J. Trump is proposing that all foreign tourists, including those from visa-waiver countries, must submit their social-media history from the past five years before entering the United States.

Under the plan from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), applicants for the electronic travel authorisation (ESTA) would be required to reveal not only social-media identifiers but also phone numbers used in the last five years, email addresses from the past decade, and detailed information about close family members.

The proposal was published this week in the Federal Register, and the information would become a mandatory part of the entry process, replacing the current system where social-media disclosure for visa-waiver visitors is optional.

The plan also suggests adding photo metadata, biometric data, and potentially other identity-verification measures.

This move expands existing social-media vetting that the U.S. government has applied to visa applicants since 2019, extending it now to short-term tourists who previously faced less intrusive screening.

Supporters say the change aims to enhance identity verification and improve threat detection, but critics warn it could deter tourism, undermine privacy, and raise serious civil-liberties concerns. Many travellers, especially from countries that normally enjoy visa-free entry, could be discouraged from visiting due to the invasive nature of the new requirements.

With public comment on the proposal now open, the plan has triggered intense debate among travel-industry groups, privacy advocates, and foreign governments.

Sources- The Guardian, NBC News, The New York Times