US set to demand five-years of social media data from all foreign visitors
US President Donald Trump's administration is set to require all foreign visitors to the United States to submit their social media histories from the past five years, according to a notice by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The directive, released on Tuesday will be enforced for all new entrants, including travelers from countries that require visas.
In addition to social media activity, visitors may also need to provide email addresses and phone numbers used during the same period, as well as the names, birth dates, and addresses of family members, including children.
The rules would also affect travelers from countries enlisted in the visa waiver program, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Qatar, who currently can visit the US for up to 90 days using an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
The proposal, published in the Federal Register—the official journal of the US government—cites a January executive order from Trump titled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
The restrictions come as the US prepares to host major international sporting events, including next year’s FIFA World Cup for men across the US, Canada, and Mexico, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Critics say the new requirements could pose significant obstacles for tourists and infringe on digital privacy and civil liberties.
The move is the latest in a series of tightened immigration measures under the Trump administration, which has already increased visa scrutiny for students, professionals, and journalists.
Last week, the administration instructed consular officials to deny visas to some applicants involved in fact-checking or social media moderation, while suggesting reductions in visa lengths for foreign journalists from five years to eight months.
Officials have also indicated that the current travel ban affecting 19 countries in Africa, the West Asia, and the Caribbean could be expanded.
Civil liberties groups have denounced the policies as unprecedented and invasive, warning that they signal a broader effort by the Trump administration to monitor and control foreign visitors entering the United States.
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