US plans to compel tourists to declare 5-year social media histories

By John Ogunsemore

The United States government is moving forward with a plan to compel visa-exempt foreign tourists to provide up to five years of their social media histories as a condition for entering the country.

This is contained in a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The proposal, which expands data collection for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), would apply to visitors from more than 40 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Israel.

These travellers currently can visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa by obtaining pre-approval through ESTA, a process that has historically been streamlined.

Under the new rules, applicants would be required to submit mandatory details on social media platforms used over the past five years, along with email addresses, phone numbers and the names and addresses of family members from the same period.

The notice also includes requests for additional personal information, such as parents’ birthplaces, biometric data and metadata from submitted photos.

CBP described the changes as a response to Executive Order 14161, issued in January 2025, which directs enhanced vetting to protect against “foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats.”

“This addition ensures that all aliens seeking admission to the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” the agency stated in the filing.

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal.

The measure builds on prior policies from the first Trump administration, including a 2019 State Department requirement for certain visa applicants to make their social media profiles public.