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US may require tourists to share social media history for entry
The US government is considering a new rule that would require tourists from 42 countries, including Australia, France, the UK, and Japan, to provide their social media handles as part of the entry process.
Travelers would need to submit their social media history from the past five years when applying through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
The proposal would also ask travelers for additional information, such as email addresses used in the past 10 years, phone numbers from the last five years, detailed family information, and biometric data when possible.
This is part of broader efforts by US authorities to increase screening of visitors.
The public has 60 days to submit feedback on the proposal.
🔗 Source: The Verge
🧠 Food for thought
Implications, context, and why it matters.
Social media screening already used for some visas, wider use for 42 Visa Waiver Program countries adds friction
- Since the Trump administration, student and skilled worker visa applicants must make social media profiles public for screening 1. Visa Waiver Program visitors spent about $84 billion in the U.S. in FY 2023 2, so new hurdles could curb trips.
- Immigration law experts say the plan could lengthen processing and add scrutiny 3. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also proposes a mobile-only Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) app 4, which may help with identity checks yet adds steps when paired with social media disclosure.
Identity verification and compliance software can meet demand from airlines and online travel agencies that need to pre-screen Electronic System for Travel Authorization applicants
- Airlines and online travel agencies will seek tools that help travelers submit clean ESTA applications 4. Near Field Communication (NFC) passport reads and liveness detection can cut fraud from low quality uploads 4 (software that checks the selfie comes from a live person).
- Privacy-minded data tools can help with five years of social media handles, phone numbers, and email addresses 4. With ESTA validity now two years for countries like Hungary 5, tracking can reduce reapplication errors across the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries 6. Digital rights groups warn about civil liberties impacts 3.
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