US Plans to Mandate Social Media History for Visa-Exempt Tourists

Proposed ESTA System Changes

• 🇺🇸 The US administration is proposing to mandate the disclosure of social media histories for visa-exempt tourists applying through the ESTA system.
• 🌍 This proposal affects travelers from 42 countries, including allies like France, Britain, Australia, and Japan, who currently do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days.
• 🗓️ The requirement would cover social media data from the past five years, including personal, family, and biometric information.

Expanded Information Requirements

• 📱 Beyond social media handles, applications would also require phone numbers and email addresses used in the last five years.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Details such as names, dates of birth, places of birth, residences, and telephone numbers of immediate family members will also be requested.
• 🤳 The application process is set to move to a mobile app, enabling features like passport chip verification, live selfie checks, and facial recognition.

Rationale and Concerns

• 🛡️ The stated goal of this expansion is to enhance national security and crack down on migration.
• ⚖️ Officials will be looking for expressions of hostility towards the US government, support for extremist groups, affiliations with flagged organizations, and inconsistencies in submitted information.
• 📉 Critics worry that the broad scope for what is considered against US interests could further chill tourism, which has already seen a significant decline impacting the US economy.