New Rules Require Social Media Scrutiny for Visa-Free Travelers

UPDATE: Foreigners traveling to the United States without a visa may soon face mandatory social media scrutiny. The Department of Homeland Security announced that select travelers could be required to submit extensive information about their social media accounts, email addresses, and family history before gaining travel approval.

This potential policy shift was detailed in a notice published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, revealing that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is proposing to collect up to five years’ worth of social media activity from travelers from over 40 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. This program currently allows citizens from mostly European and Asian nations to visit the U.S. for tourism or business for up to three months without a visa.

The proposed changes would require travelers to disclose phone numbers used in the past five years, email addresses from the last decade, and even metadata from electronically submitted photos. Additionally, applicants would need to provide detailed information about their family members, including birthplaces and phone numbers.

The public has 60 days to comment on these changes before they go into effect. The announcement comes as part of an ongoing effort to enhance national security screening, following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in January 2024.

While travelers from non-visa waiver countries have been required to provide their social media information since the Trump administration, this new rule marks a significant expansion of scrutiny for those previously exempt. Concerns have been raised by immigration and free speech advocates regarding the implications of such invasive measures, particularly about potential discrimination against those critical of the administration.

CBP has not yet clarified what specific information it seeks from social media accounts, leaving many questions unanswered as the agency increases its checks on immigrants and travelers.

As the deadline for public comment approaches, travelers and advocates alike are preparing to voice their concerns over privacy and potential overreach by government authorities. The heightened focus on social media screening is likely to impact how international travelers approach their trips to the U.S. and raises significant questions about the future of privacy in an increasingly digital world.

Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.