Tourists may need to reveal social media records to enter US

The United States is considering a new entry requirement that could compel tourists from visa-waiver countries—including the United Kingdom—to submit up to five years of social media history before being allowed into the country.

The proposal has been placed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The rule would apply to travellers who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows citizens of nearly 40 countries to visit the U.S. without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Officials say the move aligns with the broader push for heightened border scrutiny undertaken since President Donald Trump began his second term, citing national security concerns.

Analysts warn the plan may deter potential visitors and raise significant questions about digital privacy. The proposal appears just months before major global events—next year’s FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—prompting authorities to tighten security oversight. The draft was recently published in the Federal Register.

Under the proposal, ESTA applicants would be required to provide details of social media accounts they have used over the past five years. The document does not specify which types of data must be disclosed. Currently, ESTA applicants provide only minimal information and pay a $40 application fee.

The ESTA programme covers citizens of countries such as the UK, Ireland, France, Australia and Japan, allowing approved travellers multiple entries over a two-year period.

If enforced, the new policy would require applicants to share a much broader set of personal data.

Among the information potentially requested are email addresses and phone numbers used in the past 5–10 years, as well as personal details of parents, spouses, siblings and children. Applicants may also be asked to provide dates and places of birth and current residential addresses—along with additional personal identifiers yet to be defined.