The Trump administration plans to require foreign tourists to provide five years of social media history as a condition for entering the United States, according to a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register. The new rules would apply to all visitors, regardless of whether they need a visa, meaning even travelers from countries with visa waivers, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, would be affected. Currently, citizens from these countries can enter the U.S. using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization instead of obtaining a visa, but the proposed rule could add an additional barrier for them.
In addition to social media histories, Customs and Border Protection would collect other personal information, including email addresses and phone numbers used in the past five years, as well as names and addresses of family members. The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal. The announcement comes as the U.S. prepares to host FIFA World Cup events next year, which are expected to draw international visitors from countries that do not normally require visas.
This measure follows other actions by the Trump administration aimed at tightening U.S. entry requirements, including rules requiring certain visa applicants to make their social media accounts public and expanded “online presence reviews” for H-1B visa holders and their dependents. In recent months, the administration has also taken steps to revoke visas for individuals who protested the war in Gaza and announced plans to restrict various forms of legal immigration following a high-profile shooting involving an Afghan national in Washington, D.C.