Tourists from dozens of countries, including the UK, could be asked to provide a five-year social media history as a condition of entry to the United States, under a new proposal unveiled by American officials.
The new condition would affect people from dozens of countries who are eligible to visit the US for 90 days without a visa, as long as they have filled out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has moved to toughen US borders more generally - citing national security as a key reason.
Analysts say the new plan could pose an obstacle to potential visitors or harm their digital rights.
The US expects a major influx of foreign tourists next year, as it hosts the men's football World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, and for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The proposal document was filed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the agency. US media reported that it appeared in the Federal Register, the official journal of the US government. The BBC has asked DHS for comment.
It states, the data element will require ESTA applicants to provide their social media from the last 5 years, without specifying which specific information will be required.
The existing ESTA process requires limited information from travelers, along with a one-off payment of $40 (£30). It is available to citizens of about 40 countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, and Japan, allowing multiple visits to the US within a two-year period.
In addition to social media data, the new document proposes gathering an applicant's telephone numbers and email addresses used over the last five and ten years, along with additional information about their family members.
The measure cites a January executive order from Trump titled Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.
The Trump administration has previously required foreign nationals to make their social media accounts public for student visa or H1B visa applications, which have also seen increased fees.
A senior state department official commented on the student visa policy: It is an expectation from American citizens that their government will make every effort to make our country safer, which is exactly what the Trump Administration is doing every single day.
Officers were instructed to screen for applicants who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence.
As part of the administration's broader effort to tighten borders, officials recently announced that an existing travel ban, impacting 19 countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, could soon expand following a shooting incident involving two National Guard members in Washington DC.
The new proposal regarding ESTA data collection for tourists invites public feedback for 60 days. Critics, including Sophia Cope from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, argue that this initiative could exacerbate civil liberties issues.
Additionally, immigration law practice Fragomen warned that longer waits for ESTA approvals could result from these modifications. Experts have noted that Trump's travel policy changes have negatively impacted tourism to America.
Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council announced that the US was the only one of 184 economies analyzed to expect a decline in international visitor spending for 2025.
Moreover, other Trump administration policies have similarly affected US tourism; many Canadians have reportedly avoided traveling to the US as a form of protest against tariffs imposed by Trump. October marked the tenth consecutive month of declining Canadian travelers to the US, a demographic that historically comprised a significant portion of international visitors, spending over $20bn (£15.1bn) annually.
