The Trump administration proposed Tuesday requiring travelers from 42 allied countries to submit five years of social media history before entering the United States, marking the most significant expansion of travel surveillance for visa-free visitors.
The proposal targets citizens from key allies, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia, and France, who currently travel without visas for tourism or business visits up to 90 days.
US Customs and Border Protection published the changes in the Federal Register, opening a 60-day public comment period ending February 9. The measure requires Office of Management and Budget approval before implementation.
CBP plans to transform social media disclosure from optional to mandatory for Electronic System for Travel Authorization applications. The agency will collect:
- Social media accounts used in the past five years
- Email addresses from the past 10 years
- Telephone numbers from the past five years
- Names, birthdates and contact information for family members
- Mandatory selfie photographs for facial recognition verification
CBP also proposes eliminating the ESTA website, requiring all applications to be made through a mobile app. The agency cites security vulnerabilities, including over 2,400 poor-quality passport uploads and hundreds of fraudulent applications using falsified documents.
The proposal cites Executive Order 14161, which President Donald Trump signed in January, directing agencies to vet foreign visitors “to the maximum degree possible” to protect against terrorism and security threats.
A CBP spokesperson called the proposal “simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe.”
Civil liberties organizations warned that the policy threatens free speech and privacy rights.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation said expanding social media surveillance against foreign visitors invades the privacy of innocent travelers and their American contacts. EFF senior staff attorney Sophia Cope expressed particular concern about potential requirements for travelers to publicly disclose normally private profiles, similar to current student visa policies.
The United States stands as the only country among 184 global economies projected to lose tourism revenue in 2025, according to a World Travel & Tourism Council study conducted with Oxford Economics. The US Travel Association forecasts foreign visits dropping to 67.9 million in 2025 from 72.4 million in 2024, with projections indicating billions in lost revenue.
The Trump administration expanded social media vetting across multiple visa categories in 2025. In June, the State Department ordered reviews of student visa applicants’ social media presence. In December, the agency announced the expansion of screening for H-1B work visas.
Related: US Officials Give Conflicting Details on New $100K H-1B Visa Fee
Travelers from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program already face mandatory social media disclosure requirements dating to the first Trump administration.
CBP will accept public comments until February 9.
If approved, the agency indicated it may implement changes in stages over subsequent weeks and months. The proposal affects approximately 14.4 million annual ESTA applicants.
Current ESTA authorizations remain valid until their expiration dates. The changes would affect new applications and renewals after implementation.
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