US plans to review up to five years of the social media history of foreign travelers

"Foreign travelers wishing to enter the United States may be required to disclose up to five years of their social media history before arriving in the country under a proposal submitted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The data would be mandatory for visitors, regardless of whether they come from countries that require a visa, according to a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register."

"In addition, travelers could be asked to submit any phone numbers used in the last five years, email addresses from the last 10 years, and more detailed information about their family members, including names, dates of birth, addresses, and contact details. The measure also includes plans to collect additional technical and biometric data from travelers. This could include IP addresses, metadata from uploaded photos, and biometric identifiers such as facial images, fingerprints, DNA, and iris data."

Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security proposed requiring foreign travelers to provide up to five years of social media history as part of the ESTA process. The requirement would apply to visitors regardless of visa status and would expand data collection for Visa Waiver Program entrants. Applicants could also be asked for phone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the last 10 years, and detailed family information. The proposal includes collecting technical and biometric data such as IP addresses, photo metadata, facial images, fingerprints, DNA, iris data, and possibly a selfie. ESTA currently requires basic biographical data, contact information, and a $40 fee, with authorization typically valid for two years, and some biometric collection already occurs upon arrival.

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