Tourists from numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, may soon be required to provide a five-year history of their social media activity as a condition for entering the United States, according to a new proposal released by American authorities.
The measure would apply to travelers eligible for the 90-day visa-free program, provided they complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization form.
Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has prioritized stricter border controls, citing national security as a primary concern.
Analysts warn that the new plan could create barriers for prospective visitors and raise concerns over digital privacy rights.
The US anticipates a surge in international tourists next year, with the country co-hosting the men’s football World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, and preparing for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The proposal, submitted by Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security, was reportedly published in the Federal Register, the US government’s official journal. The BBC has sought comment from DHS.
According to the document, “the data element will require ESTA applicants to provide their social media from the last 5 years,” though it does not specify the exact details of the information required.
Currently, ESTA applicants provide a limited set of personal details and pay a one-time fee of $40 (£30). Citizens from roughly 40 countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, and Japan, can visit the US multiple times over a two-year period under the existing system.
Beyond social media, the new proposal seeks applicants’ telephone numbers and email addresses from the past five and ten years respectively, in addition to more detailed family information.
The text references a Trump executive order from January titled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
The Trump administration has previously required foreign nationals applying for student visas or H1B skilled worker visas to make their social media accounts public, alongside increased visa fees.
A senior state department official defended the policy, stating: “It is an expectation from American citizens that their government will make every effort to make our country safer, and that is exactly what the Trump Administration is doing every single day.”
Officers were instructed to screen for those “who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence.”
As part of broader border-tightening efforts, officials have indicated that an existing travel ban affecting 19 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean could be expanded.
This announcement followed a shooting targeting two National Guard members in Washington DC, in which an Afghan man has been identified as the suspect.
The proposal on expanded ESTA data collection will accept public comments for 60 days.
Sophia Cope of the digital rights organization the Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized the plan, telling the New York Times that it could “exacerbate civil liberties harms.”
Meanwhile, immigration law firm Fragomen warned of practical effects, noting that applicants might face longer waits for ESTA approvals.
Experts have noted that Trump-era changes to travel policies have already affected US tourism. Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council reported that the US was the only one of 184 economies projected to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025.
Additional Trump administration measures, such as tariffs that prompted many Canadians to boycott US travel, have also weighed on tourism. October marked the tenth consecutive month of declining Canadian visitors, who historically represent about a quarter of all international arrivals to the US and spend over $20bn (£15.1bn) annually, according to the US Travel Association.
