Be Ready to Provide 5 Years of Social Media Data When Entering the US

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has introduced a proposal that would expand the information required from travelers entering the US through the Visa Waiver Program.

Proposal details

Citizens of 42 participating countries, including the UK, France, Chile, and South Korea, would need to provide up to five years of social media history, ten years of email addresses, and extensive family background details as part of the ESTA online authorization used for short visits of up to 90 days.

Travelers would also be required to submit a biometric selfie, a record of phone numbers used in the past five years, and detailed information about parents, spouses, siblings, and children, including birthplaces and contact details.

This data would feed into automated checks that compare the information against watchlists and identity databases. When inconsistencies appear, CBP’s AI tools would review social media posts for indicators of potential security risks, such as extremist ties, signs of planned unauthorized work, or other discrepancies.

Human agents would only conduct deeper manual reviews when the system flags significant concerns.

Core motives

The agency argues that current ESTA applications do not offer enough data to reliably detect fraud or identity manipulation among more than 20 million annual visa-free visitors.

By adding social media and expanded family information, CBP believes it can verify identities more accurately and spot dishonest claims, such as travelers who apply for tourism but publicly post about planned work.

The proposal also reflects lessons from recent security incidents, including the 2025 Afghan case that highlighted screening gaps.

CBP says the goal is to increase safety while still allowing automated systems to handle the bulk of reviews quickly.

How we got here

US authorities first introduced social media screening in 2019 for certain visa categories, including students and some employment-based visas. Over time, these reviews expanded and began requiring applicants to make public certain profiles so that CBP could assess potential signs of extremism or fraud.

Several cases, such as the denial of a Lebanese medical professional whose social media linked to Hezbollah material, reinforced the agency’s belief that digital histories can reveal risks.

While the Biden administration reduced broad screenings in favor of targeted checks, the new proposal revives and expands them to cover all Visa Waiver Program travelers.

Similar measures at points of entry, including phone inspections and biometric scans, have increased since 2020 despite ongoing criticism from privacy advocates.

What’s next

The CBP proposal has entered the standard federal rulemaking process.

After the filing on December 9, 2025, a 60-day public comment period began. During this window, travelers, airlines, technology companies, and civil liberties groups such as the ACLU can submit responses addressing privacy concerns, implementation challenges, and potential financial costs.

The final rule will be shaped by this feedback before CBP determines whether to adopt, revise, or withdraw the proposal.

For more context on broader policy changes affecting travel this year, see our explainer on Trump’s impact on travel.

Photo by Howen on Unsplash