The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a significant expansion of entry requirements for visa-exempt foreign tourists, which would mandate the disclosure of their social media histories from the past five years.
According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the new rule would apply to visitors from 42 countries—including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Japan—who currently enter the U.S. under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) waiver program.
Under the proposal, providing social media data would become a compulsory part of the ESTA application. Travellers would also be required to submit additional “high-value data,” such as phone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the past decade, family member details, and biometric information.
The public has 60 days to submit comments on the proposed rule, which is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten immigration and border controls.
The timing of the proposal is notable, as the U.S., along with Mexico and Canada, is set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to draw millions of international visitors.
Tags: US Immigration, Social Media Policy, Travel Regulations, Donald Trump, ESTA, Data Privacy
Disclaimer:
This article reports on a proposed rule change published by the U.S. government. The policy is subject to public comment and revision. CDA News provides this information for travellers and interested readers and does not take a position on the proposal.
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