"Visitors who are eligible to enter the United States without a visa may soon be required to provide the Department of Homeland Security with significantly more personal information, including details about their social media activity, email accounts and family background. According to a notice published on Wednesday in the Federal Register, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is proposing to collect up to five years of social media data from travellers from certain visa-waiver countries."
"The proposed requirement would apply to travellers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of 42 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Qatar, Greece, Malta, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Israel and South Korea to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days. At present, the ESTA automatically screens applicants and grants travel approval without requiring an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, unlike standard visa applications."
US Customs and Border Protection proposes expanding personal information required from Visa Waiver Program visitors using ESTA, including social media history, email and phone records, and biometrics. The proposal would seek up to five years of social media data, telephone numbers used over the past five years, and email addresses used over the last 10 years. High-value fields could include photo metadata and extensive family member details. The change would affect citizens of 42 countries authorized for 90-day tourism or business travel without visas. ESTA currently auto-screens applicants and does not require in-person embassy interviews.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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