New Travel Regulations May Subject Visa Waiver Travelers to Social Media Scrutiny

Thu Dec 11 2025 21:42:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As part of heightened security measures, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposes that travelers from select countries disclose extensive social media and family information prior to entry.

Foreign nationals visiting the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program may soon be required to submit significant amounts of personal data, including social media accounts and family history. This move is part of the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to enhance security screenings, following previous policies during the Trump administration that aimed to monitor travelers more closely. As per a recent announcement, the public has until the end of the comment period to respond to these proposed changes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign travelers who are permitted entry into the United States without a visa might soon face new requirements involving extensive personal disclosures, including social media accounts, email usage, and detailed family history.

The proposal was outlined in a notice published Wednesday in the Federal Register. It stated that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends to collect five years' worth of social media data from visitors coming from specific countries under the Visa Waiver Program, which currently includes around 40 nations, primarily in Europe and Asia.

Unlike typical visa applicants, these travelers are generally not required to attend embassy interviews; they utilize the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which automatically processes their applications.

The announcement indicates that travelers would not only need to list their social media handles but also provide phone numbers used over the past five years, email addresses from the last decade, metadata from electronic photographs submitted, and extensive details regarding family members including their birthplaces and contact information.

This new requirement is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to enhance national security screenings, particularly for individuals traveling from countries deemed potentially risky. President Donald Trump previously indicated no concerns regarding tourism impacts stemming from these measures, emphasizing the need for national safety.

Travelers are currently allowed 60 days to comment on the proposed changes before they are finalized. While current ESTA applicants only provide limited information such as parents' names and their current email address, the extensive data collection proposes a significant increase in scrutiny.

Since the beginning of the Trump administration, there has been escalating monitoring of both immigrants and travelers, enforcing stricter visa application requirements, including mandates for social media profiles to be publicly accessible. Failure to comply with this could result in visa denials based on the assessment of potential derogatory content.

Concerns have been raised by advocates for immigration rights and free speech regarding these intensified screening practices, questioning whether they infringe upon individuals' rights and target dissenting voices.