"The United States is planning to require some visitors to provide their social media history from the past five years, according to US President Donald Trump's administration. This requirement will apply to visitors who do not need a visa to enter the US. Here is a closer look at this proposal: The proposal was announced on the Federal Register by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Wednesday. It will enable officials to collect up to five years of social media history from travellers from certain visa-waiver countries before they can enter the country."
"The proposal states that this mandatory social media history disclosure is in line with Executive Order 14161, signed by Trump in January 2025. That order, titled Protecting the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats, required US government agencies to increase their vetting of foreign nationals entering the country. The requirement will apply to travellers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the US's Visa Waiver Program."
"The Visa Waiver Program permits 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 purposes 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. Applicants are required to provide a more limited set of information, such as their parents' names, current email address and details of any past criminal record."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require some visitors from visa-waiver countries to provide up to five years of social media history before entering the United States. The measure targets travellers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program. The requirement aligns with Executive Order 14161 signed in January 2025, which directed expanded vetting of foreign nationals for national security and public safety. The Visa Waiver Program covers citizens of 42 countries who may travel for up to 90 days. ESTA currently screens applicants automatically and has included an optional social media question since 2016. Officials will collect social media history from travellers from certain visa-waiver countries and require mandatory disclosure once the proposal takes effect.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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