US Proposes Demanding Five Years' Worth of Social Media History from Tourists Before Allowing Entry
In a move that has left many in the travel industry shaken, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed a new rule requiring visitors to provide their social media history for the past five years as a condition of entry. The plan, which is part of an executive order aimed at strengthening national security, would also require applicants to list all their phone numbers and email addresses used over the last five and 10 years, respectively.
The proposed rule, which could be implemented by the end of the year, would apply to visitors from countries that typically enjoy easy entry into the US via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The new requirement is part of an effort by the Trump administration to boost security measures at the country's borders.
Critics argue that the new rule could discourage travelers and lead to a decline in tourism, as one Australian tourist who was planning to visit the US for the upcoming World Cup has reportedly abandoned those plans. "It's horrifying," the tourist told The Guardian.
The proposed rule would give CBP officers a more comprehensive understanding of an applicant's online activities, which could help identify potential security risks. However, critics argue that the new requirement is overly broad and could lead to unnecessary delays and costs for travelers.
According to estimates by the CBP, implementing the new rule would require approximately 3,000 full-time jobs and billions of dollars in additional man-hours per year. The current ESTA application process costs $40 and allows visitors to stay in the US for up to 90 days at a time, with approval valid for two years.
When questioned about the potential impact on tourism, President Trump dismissed concerns, stating that "we're doing so well" and expressing confidence in the new security measures. The CBP has emphasized that the proposed rule is just the first step in a broader discussion about national security policy.
If implemented, the rule would affect visitors from 40 countries, including major destinations like the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan. However, it's worth noting that travelers from Canada and Mexico, which account for nearly half of all US tourists, do not require a visa or ESTA approval.
As the proposed rule moves forward, many in the travel industry are bracing themselves for potential changes to their operations and services. With the US tourism market already facing challenges due to global uncertainty, the impact of this new requirement could be significant.
In a move that has left many in the travel industry shaken, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed a new rule requiring visitors to provide their social media history for the past five years as a condition of entry. The plan, which is part of an executive order aimed at strengthening national security, would also require applicants to list all their phone numbers and email addresses used over the last five and 10 years, respectively.
The proposed rule, which could be implemented by the end of the year, would apply to visitors from countries that typically enjoy easy entry into the US via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The new requirement is part of an effort by the Trump administration to boost security measures at the country's borders.
Critics argue that the new rule could discourage travelers and lead to a decline in tourism, as one Australian tourist who was planning to visit the US for the upcoming World Cup has reportedly abandoned those plans. "It's horrifying," the tourist told The Guardian.
The proposed rule would give CBP officers a more comprehensive understanding of an applicant's online activities, which could help identify potential security risks. However, critics argue that the new requirement is overly broad and could lead to unnecessary delays and costs for travelers.
According to estimates by the CBP, implementing the new rule would require approximately 3,000 full-time jobs and billions of dollars in additional man-hours per year. The current ESTA application process costs $40 and allows visitors to stay in the US for up to 90 days at a time, with approval valid for two years.
When questioned about the potential impact on tourism, President Trump dismissed concerns, stating that "we're doing so well" and expressing confidence in the new security measures. The CBP has emphasized that the proposed rule is just the first step in a broader discussion about national security policy.
If implemented, the rule would affect visitors from 40 countries, including major destinations like the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan. However, it's worth noting that travelers from Canada and Mexico, which account for nearly half of all US tourists, do not require a visa or ESTA approval.
As the proposed rule moves forward, many in the travel industry are bracing themselves for potential changes to their operations and services. With the US tourism market already facing challenges due to global uncertainty, the impact of this new requirement could be significant.
?? they wanna see our instagram history lol what's next??? do we gotta show them our tweets 2? 
i'm all for safety and security but dis is just too much 
it's gonna hurt tourism so bad in countries like australia & uk 
u mean they're not even gonna allow us to visit the world cup if we dont have 5 yrs worth of social media?? 
what a joke 
i'm so done with trump's crazy rules 
but seriously it's super sketchy how they're doing this i mean i get security is important but do u really need to know our entire online history? 
plus think about the people who aren't even tech savvy or dont have all their old phone numbers and email addresses 
and the estimated 3k jobs it's gonna create is kinda a joke right? 
. I mean, what's next? Asking for our password to our grandma's Facebook page 
. It's already hard enough getting through security checks without having to give up more personal info than we're already comfortable with 
. People are already super cautious when traveling, and now you're gonna add this extra layer of scrutiny? Not cool 
. I get that national security is important, but is this really the most effective way to achieve that goal? 
. Do they really think everyone from the UK or Australia has been posting selfies on Instagram for the past five years? 
.
. How about investing in more effective security measures instead of just asking people to fill out another form 
? 
! Are they serious about this? Demanding 5 years' worth of social media history just to let people into the country? That's just a massive invasion of personal space and a huge hassle for travelers 
It's gonna affect so many people and businesses, and for what? So the US government can feel safe? 
It's just too much info to handle.
. They're already struggling, now they have to deal with this new rule too? It's just not fair. I mean, what's the real threat here? Terrorists checking their Instagram posts before boarding a plane?! 
i mean i get it, security is important but come on, that's just creepy. and now they're expecting us to list all our phone numbers and email addresses too? my god what's next? tracking our grocery shopping habits? 
like, i get it, national security is important but 5 years' worth of social media history? that's just too much info dude 
i'm def not planning on traveling to the US anytime soon just thinking about it is giving me anxiety 
. Can you imagine having to sift through that much data? It's like they're trying to micromanage people's online lives 
. And what's next? Are they gonna ask for passwords too?! 
. five years' worth of social media history? that's a lot of personal info 
. i'm not sure this is worth the boost in security, but what do i know? just me, lurking from the shadows 
. Maybe they could find ways to implement this rule without making it so invasive or expensive 
.
? It's gonna hurt tourism, no doubt. I've seen some of my mates get kicked out of America just 'cause they couldn't figure out how to fill out an online form correctly