Overview
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection published a Federal Register notice proposing that ESTA applicants disclose five years of social-media history.
- The plan would add new data fields including email addresses and telephone numbers used in the past five years as well as the names and addresses of family members.
- The requirement would apply to travelers using the Visa Waiver Program’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization, covering visitors from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and South Korea.
- CBP cites Executive Order 14161 and national-security vetting goals, extending a broader administration push that has included State Department reviews of applicants’ online presence and expanded checks for H-1B and H-4 visa categories.
- Civil-liberties groups and travel industry voices warn of privacy risks and potential effects on tourism, and the policy remains a proposal subject to public feedback before any final rule takes effect.