US senators push back on social media check for tourist visas
American senators are opposing a new plan by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The proposal would make millions of foreign visitors share their social media accounts. This affects travelers from visa waiver program countries. Senators say this a...
By ET Online |
Agencies
Two Democratic senators on Friday asked the Trump administration to drop a proposal that would require millions of foreign visitors to provide their social media handles from the past five years. The plan, put forward by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), would apply to travelers from countries that are part of the visa waiver program.
Under the proposal, visitors who can currently travel to the United States without a visa for up to 90 days would have to list the social media accounts they have used in the last five years when completing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form. The visa waiver program covers 42 countries, mostly in Europe.
Senators Ed Markey and Ron Wyden said the move would subject travelers to wide digital monitoring.
"By requiring travelers to disclose their personal social media information, CBP will force people who simply want to visit family in the United States, conduct business with U.S. companies, or attend events such as the upcoming World Cup to submit to sweeping digital surveillance," said Senators Ed Markey and Ron Wyden.
"No doubt many Americans would be outraged if countries such as Great Britain, France, or Australia imposed a similar policy on American tourists."
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In December, the department said the proposal could take effect as early as this month.
Earlier, a group representing the U.S. travel and tourism industry warned that the proposal could discourage people from visiting the country. "If we get this policy wrong, millions of travelers could take their business and the billions of dollars they spend elsewhere, only making America weaker," the U.S. Travel Association said.
Since 2019, applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas have been required to share their social media information. The new proposal would expand the requirement to travelers using the visa waiver program.
Washington has moved to tighten screening of foreign nationals following a Trump executive order issued in January 2025. The order calls for visitors to the United States to be "vetted and screened to the maximum degree."
The United States is also considering requiring visitors to provide all email addresses used over the last 10 years, along with the names, birth dates, residences and birthplaces of parents, siblings, children and spouses.
In December, the U.S. State Department said it was requiring all H-1B applicants and their dependents to change the privacy settings on their social media accounts to "public" so officials can review their posts.
with inputs from Reuters
Under the proposal, visitors who can currently travel to the United States without a visa for up to 90 days would have to list the social media accounts they have used in the last five years when completing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form. The visa waiver program covers 42 countries, mostly in Europe.
Senators Ed Markey and Ron Wyden said the move would subject travelers to wide digital monitoring.
"By requiring travelers to disclose their personal social media information, CBP will force people who simply want to visit family in the United States, conduct business with U.S. companies, or attend events such as the upcoming World Cup to submit to sweeping digital surveillance," said Senators Ed Markey and Ron Wyden.
"No doubt many Americans would be outraged if countries such as Great Britain, France, or Australia imposed a similar policy on American tourists."
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In December, the department said the proposal could take effect as early as this month.
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Earlier, a group representing the U.S. travel and tourism industry warned that the proposal could discourage people from visiting the country. "If we get this policy wrong, millions of travelers could take their business and the billions of dollars they spend elsewhere, only making America weaker," the U.S. Travel Association said.
Since 2019, applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas have been required to share their social media information. The new proposal would expand the requirement to travelers using the visa waiver program.
Washington has moved to tighten screening of foreign nationals following a Trump executive order issued in January 2025. The order calls for visitors to the United States to be "vetted and screened to the maximum degree."
The United States is also considering requiring visitors to provide all email addresses used over the last 10 years, along with the names, birth dates, residences and birthplaces of parents, siblings, children and spouses.
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In December, the U.S. State Department said it was requiring all H-1B applicants and their dependents to change the privacy settings on their social media accounts to "public" so officials can review their posts.
with inputs from Reuters
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