Foreign Travelers May Soon Be Required to Submit Social Media Information Before Visiting the U.S.
By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press
In a recent notice published in the Federal Register, Customs and Border Protection has proposed collecting five years worth of social media information from travelers from select countries who do not require visas to visit the United States. This new requirement is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to increase monitoring of international travelers and immigrants.
The travelers affected by this new rule are those from more than three dozen countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. These travelers submit their information to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which screens and approves them for travel to the U.S. without the need for a visa interview at an embassy or consulate.
Along with social media information, CBP will also request other details such as telephone numbers used over the past five years, email addresses used over the past decade, metadata from electronically submitted photos, and extensive information about the applicant’s family members. The public has 60 days to comment on these proposed changes before they are implemented.
The increased scrutiny of travelers’ social media accounts is in line with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, aiming to enhance security measures for people entering the country. This policy has been in place for travelers from non-Visa Waiver Program countries since the first Trump administration and has continued under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Since January, the Trump administration has also intensified checks on immigrants and travelers, requiring visa applicants to make all their social media accounts public for easier scrutiny. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services now assesses whether applicants for benefits have expressed anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views on social media.
While these measures are intended to bolster national security, they have raised concerns among immigration and free speech advocates regarding privacy and potential discrimination against individuals critical of the administration.
