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The Trump administration is contemplating a new requirement that could compel tourists from numerous countries to disclose their social media profiles before entering the United States. According to a proposal from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, travelers would need to provide their social media history from the past five years as part of a mandatory screening process, a move first reported by The New York Times.
Currently, citizens from 42 nations, including prominent ones like Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, can travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without needing a visa. Should this proposal be enacted, these visitors would be obligated to include their social media information during their Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application process.
This initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to tighten immigration policies. Earlier, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suggested scrutinizing the social media accounts of individuals applying for green cards, citizenship, as well as asylum and refugee status. Furthermore, in June, the State Department began requesting visa applicants to make their social media accounts public. Trump’s administration has previously instituted similar requirements for certain visa applicants.
In addition to social media details, the CBP’s proposal would ask travelers to supply other data “when feasible,” such as email addresses from the last decade, phone numbers used in the past five years, detailed family member information, and even biometric data. At present, visitors are required to submit an email address, phone number, home address, and emergency contact details, according to the NYT.
The public has been given a 60-day window to comment on this proposal, allowing for feedback and discussion before any final decisions are made.