The United States government has proposed a controversial rule that would require some foreign visitors to disclose up to five years of their social media history before entering the country, a move that is aimed at strengthening security screening measures. The plan would affect citizens of countries that normally enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S., raising privacy and civil liberties concerns among critics and human rights advocates.
Under the proposal published this week in the Federal Register by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), travellers eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), including citizens of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and other allies, could be asked to provide detailed social media account information covering the five years prior to their application. Currently, visitors from 43 countries can enter the U.S. for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa by applying through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which now requires only basic personal and travel details.
“We want safety, we want security, we want to make sure we’re not letting the wrong people come into our country,” Donald Trump stated.
Trump on the 5 year social media history check for visitor visa applicants;
— M9 USA🇺🇸 (@M9USA_) December 10, 2025
Watch:
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The new rule would make social media identifiers a mandatory part of the ESTA application process, marking a significant shift from the current system, where providing social media data is optional. CBP’s notice also outlines that applicants may have to submit telephone numbers used over the past five years, email addresses used in the past decade, biometric data such as selfies and fingerprints and extensive information about close family members, including names, birth dates and birthplaces.
CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) argue that the enhanced data collection would help identify potential threats before travellers board flights to the United States, effectively expanding national security checks. The proposed changes are part of broader immigration and border policy shifts under the administration of President Donald Trump, which has recently emphasised stricter screening for all forms of entry. Public comment on the proposal will remain open for 60 days before any changes are finalised.
“This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe,” a spokesperson for CBP said in a statement.
— U.S. Embassy London Consular (@USAinUKConsular) December 11, 2025
However, the plan has drawn strong criticism from privacy advocates, legal experts and civil liberties organisations. Critics warn that mandatory disclosure of social media histories infringes on freedom of expression and blurs the line between legitimate security concerns and intrusive surveillance of lawful behaviour.
Some argue that requiring travellers to make personal digital information accessible to U.S. authorities could deter travel and tourism to the country, particularly as major international events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics, are scheduled to be hosted in the country. Civil rights organisations have warned that increased social media scrutiny could suppress dissent and target travellers who have shared political opinions online.
The measure may also strain diplomatic ties with allied nations whose citizens are subject to the new rule. Some analysts note that such data requests may run up against privacy protections in regions such as the European Union, where strict data protection laws govern the handling of personal information.
The proposed changes also come amid broader debate about how the United States balances security and civil liberties in its immigration policy. Recently, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called for expanding the travel ban to additional countries she said are ‘flooding’ the US with criminal activity, following the shooting in Washington, D.C. The expansion could raise the number of restricted nations from 19 to more than 30, affecting travellers seeking entry for tourism, study, or business.
Supporters of the plan argue that modern threats require modern responses and that social media history can reveal patterns or connections that traditional vetting might miss. But opponents say the policy risks undermining the U.S.’s reputation as a welcoming destination and could impose bureaucratic hurdles that outweigh potential security gains.
