“`html
Under a new proposal from U.S. officials, tourists from numerous countries, including the UK, could be required to provide a five-year social media history as a condition for entering the United States.
The proposed requirement would affect individuals from dozens of countries eligible to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
Since assuming office, President Donald Trump has prioritized the reinforcement of U.S. borders, citing national security concerns as a primary justification.
Analysts suggest the new measure could present an obstacle for prospective visitors or infringe upon their digital rights.
When questioned about the potential for a decline in tourism to the U.S. due to the proposal, President Trump expressed no concern.
“No. We’re doing so well,” Trump stated on Wednesday.
“We simply want people to come here safely. We prioritize safety and security, ensuring that we are not allowing undesirable individuals into our country.”
The U.S. anticipates a significant increase in international tourism in the coming years, particularly as it co-hosts the men’s FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico and prepares for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The proposal was filed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
U.S. media outlets have reported that the proposal appeared in the Federal Register, the official journal of the U.S. government. The BBC has reached out to DHS for comment.
According to the proposal, “the data element will require ESTA applicants to provide their social media from the last 5 years,” though specific details regarding the required information remain unspecified.
The existing ESTA application requires a relatively limited amount of information from travelers, along with a $40 (£30) fee. It is available to citizens of approximately 40 countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, and Japan, allowing for multiple visits to the U.S. over a two-year period.
In addition to social media data, the new proposal suggests collecting applicants’ telephone numbers and email addresses used over the past five and ten years, respectively, as well as additional information about their family members.
The text references an executive order issued by President Trump in January, titled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
The proposed changes to ESTA data collection for tourists are subject to a 60-day public comment period.
Sophia Cope, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, expressed concern over the plan, telling the New York Times that it could “exacerbate civil liberties harms.”
Fragomen, an immigration law practice, suggested that the policy could lead to longer waiting times for ESTA approvals.
The Trump administration previously announced that it would examine social media accounts when vetting foreign nationals applying for student visas or H1B visas for skilled workers.
The State Department indicated that it would conduct “online presence” reviews for applicants and their dependents, requiring all social media profiles to be made “public” to facilitate screening.
An announcement on the website for the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Mexico states that certain visa applicants must list all social media usernames or handles for every platform used in the past five years.
It cautions that failure to disclose any social media information could result in the denial of current and future visas.
Regarding the student visa policy, a senior State Department official stated, “American citizens expect their government to make every effort to ensure the safety of our country, and that is precisely what the Trump Administration is doing every single day.”
Officials were instructed to screen for individuals “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 the administration’s broader effort to reinforce borders, officials recently indicated that an existing travel ban—affecting 19 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean—could soon be expanded.
The announcement followed a shooting attack on two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., for which an Afghan man has been identified as the suspect.
Experts have previously suggested that the changes to travel policies implemented under President Trump have affected the American tourism industry.
Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council reported that the U.S. was the only one of 184 economies analyzed that was expected to experience a decline in international visitor spending in 2025.
Other policies of the Trump administration have also appeared to negatively impact tourism, such as Canadian boycotts of U.S. travel in protest of Trump’s tariffs.
October marked the tenth consecutive month of decline in the number of Canadian travelers to the U.S. In the past, Canadians have represented approximately a quarter of all international visitors to the U.S., spending more than $20 billion (£15.1 billion) annually, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, and Chuck Schumer participated in the annual ceremony commemorating the eight days of Hanukkah.
The U.S. central bank lowered interest rates for the third time this year, but the outlook for further cuts remains uncertain.
The president escalated his immigration rhetoric in a speech that his advisors and party had expected to focus on the economy.
The U.S. State Department will be required to use Times New Roman instead of Calibri for official documents, starting December 10.
A federal judge ruled that materials from the investigation can be unsealed due to a new law passed by Congress last month.
“`