According to The New York Times, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has proposed a policy that would require visitors from 42 visa waiver countries to provide up to five years of social media history. The proposal also asks for email addresses from the past decade and detailed personal information about parents, spouses, siblings and children. As a result, the data collected would extend beyond the traveler alone.
Immigration specialists note that a lack of social media records may increasingly be interpreted as suspicious, potentially harming an applicant’s chance of entering the country. Digital rights organizations argue that the proposal represents a major escalation in surveillance practices and that similar measures have shown little evidence of improving security. Instead, they warn of chilling effects on free expression and of governments gaining detailed insight into travelers’ social and political networks.
Legal experts describe the shift as a move from verifying factual information to evaluating online speech, raising concerns about discretionary decision-making and increased risk of denial. The proposal could also lead to longer processing times and additional screening for many travelers.
C.B.P. states that the measure is not yet final and will undergo a 60-day public comment period. Critics emphasize that, if adopted, the new policy would mark a significant expansion of state power over the digital lives of millions of international visitors.
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