The US government, led by President Donald Trump, is about to enact a new rule requiring international visitors who are not required to have a visa to disclose their social media history before to entering the US.
The new rule will apply to travelers from 42 visa-waiver countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Japan, who do not currently require a visa to enter the United States, according to an official notice published in the Federal Register.
According to reports, travelers from these countries currently just need to submit an application through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which only asks for basic personal data.
The latest plan, however, aims to make it “mandatory” for ESTA applicants to disclose their social media accounts and activities from the previous five years.
According to the notification, visitors would have to submit “social media histories from the last five years,” which is a major increase in the amount of information that the US requires of those who enter the country without a visa.
In addition to social media data, the Trump administration plans to gather “high-value data fields.”
These comprise:
Phone numbers that have been in use over the previous five years
The last ten years’ worth of email addresses
Details about family members’ personal lives
Information from biometrics
Before the draft rule is finalized, the public has been given 60 days to provide feedback.
The program is a component of the administration’s larger, multiyear campaign against immigration and border security. In the guise of national security and screening integrity, the Trump administration has consistently increased admission rules.
Millions of people from all over the world are anticipated to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
According to reports, the most recent proposal is expected to have an impact on a significant number of football enthusiasts who intend to travel for the international competition.
