American authorities have unveiled a proposal that would require foreign tourists from dozens of countries, including the United Kingdom, to provide a five-year record of their social media activity before entering the United States. The measure, introduced by Customs and Border Protection, seeks to significantly expand the personal information collected from travellers who qualify for the visa waiver programme. Forty-two countries currently participate in the programme, which allows short-term travel to the United States without a formal visa, and all travellers in this category would be subject to the new disclosure requirements if the rule is implemented.
According to the proposal, officials intend to gather additional biographical and digital information through what they describe as high-value data fields. Alongside social media accounts used over the previous five years, applicants may be required to submit telephone numbers used within the past decade, email addresses associated with them during the same period, and further details about family members. The announcement states that the updated requirements are designed to comply with Executive Order 14161, issued in January 2025, which directs federal agencies to enhance protections against foreign threats to national security and public safety.
The document explains that the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, known as ESTA, will incorporate social media disclosure as a mandatory component of its application process. While the text specifies that platforms used during the past five years must be listed, it offers no clarification regarding the type of content or account information applicants will be expected to reveal. ESTA currently requires travellers to submit limited personal details and pay a $40 processing fee, and once approved, the authorization remains valid for two years of multiple entries.
The proposal comes as the United States prepares for a substantial rise in international visitors in the coming years. The country will co-host the men’s football World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and Los Angeles is set to be the host city for the 2028 Olympic Games. Officials argue that increasing global travel volumes necessitate stronger vetting mechanisms to identify potential security concerns before travellers arrive at US airports and land borders.
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has prioritised stricter border controls and expanded screening procedures. His administration previously required social media disclosures for applicants seeking student visas and H1B visas, widening the scope of digital records examined during immigration reviews. The latest proposal reflects a continuation of that approach, extending the requirement to millions of tourists who visit the United States through the visa waiver programme each year.
In addition to expanding data collection, officials have indicated that an existing travel ban affecting several countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean may also be broadened. That development followed an incident in Washington, DC, in which two National Guard members were shot and an Afghan national was identified as a suspect. Authorities have cited the episode as evidence of the need for more comprehensive pre-arrival screening practices.
The proposal filed by Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security has been submitted for public review. It appears in the Federal Register, where regulatory changes are formally documented before adoption. If approved after the review process, the rule would mark one of the most extensive expansions of digital data requirements for foreign travellers entering the United States, and its impact would be felt across the international tourism sector during a period of expected record-high travel.
