Trump Administration Proposes Mandatory Social Media Disclosure for International Travelers

The Trump administration has put forward a proposal that would require international travelers to disclose five years of social media history when applying to visit the United States through the visa waiver program.

The proposed requirement would affect users of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), an online application system used by citizens from 42 countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. ESTA currently collects information such as birth dates, passport details, and criminal history from travelers seeking to enter the U.S. for tourism or business stays of 90 days or less.

Under current ESTA guidelines, providing social media account information is optional. The new proposal would make this disclosure mandatory for all applicants.

The Department of Homeland Security has opened the proposal for public comment, with the comment period closing on February 9. The administration has not yet specified which social media platforms would be included in the requirement or how the collected data would be used and stored.

The visa waiver program allows eligible travelers from participating countries to visit the United States without obtaining a traditional visa, streamlining the entry process for millions of visitors annually.