US to demand five years of social media history from foreign travelers under new proposal

[midian182]

A hot potato: The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has filed a proposal that would see travelers from 42 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and South Korea, have five years of their social media history reviewed as part of the visa waiver programme. The agency would make this search "mandatory" for those visiting the US.

Travelers from the 42 countries can currently visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they obtain an electronic travel authorization.

The New York Times reports that in a document filed in the Federal Register, CBP plans to require applicants to provide a list of personal data, including social media, email addresses from the last ten years, and the names, birth dates, places of residence, and birthplaces of parents, spouses, siblings and children.

Border officials will collect face, fingerprint, DNA, and iris biometrics "when feasible." CBP currently only records face and fingerprints upon arrival at the US border.

Applicants currently pay $40 to enroll in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program and must submit only an email address, home address, phone number and emergency contact information.

Xiao Wang, co-founder and chief executive of Boundless, a visa- and immigration-assistance company, told the NYT that listing your social media handles has been optional on the application since 2016.

The CBP never previously explained how not listing social media details would affect an application, though declining may lead to additional screening. Wang expects the government will increasingly view those who refuse to hand over the information as having something to hide.

The CBP said it would accept 60 days of public comments on the proposal.

As of December 15, the US government will also conduct social media reviews for some visa applicants, including all H-1B applicants and their dependents, who are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to public.

There have already been reports of travelers being denied entry to the US because of anti-Trump social media posts and messages found on their personal devices – content the CBP has described as "terrorism."

The US will experience massive increase in foreign visitors next year as it hosts the World Cup soccer tournament alongside Canada and Mexico. There will be another influx of travelers arriving for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

With the prospect of agents trawling through years of social media posts, many who say they had planned to travel to the US for the sporting events have now decided to stay at home.

"This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn immediately," said Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe.

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said: "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States. This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe. The department is constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington DC against our National Guard right before Thanksgiving."

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US to demand five years of social media history from foreign travelers under new proposal

 

[Rapob]

Crazy how clueless Trump is.

Tariffs, hits the US citizens the most, which pays extra for all imported goods. They now take some of these money, and give back to farmers. Haha. Sadly, only a small percentage of what they paid more.

This, stops people from visitting the US, meaning billions lost in tourism revenue. Clever, considering FIFA World Cup in 2026 where tourists would spend billions upon billions. Many will just stay away now.

No wonder US dept is growing and growing. Tarrifs was Trump trying to close this black hole, and it backfired like crazy.

AI is the sole reason US economy has not crashed yet. No AI and Trump would have started a new financial crisis. NASDAQ and SP500 is held up by AI and tech only.

The day AI bubble burst, will be a new financial crisis like its 2008.

 

[magoid]

Honest question: how many countries demand access to your internet personal credentials? I'm under the impression the US is not alone in this.
EDIT:
Looks like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are doing it, but there may be more.

 

[mbk34]

The land of the free!

I don't think this will affect many Europeans as I don't know anyone who's planning on going back to America in the near future. Perhaps that's what you wanted.

 

[LooseBowels]

Honest question: how many countries demand access to your internet personal credentials? I'm under the impression the US is not alone in this.
EDIT:
Looks like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are doing it, but there may be more.

Don't know where you're getting that information from about Australia.

Currently there is no requirement for foreign tourists or visitors just arriving in the country to hand over their email accounts, social media accounts/passwords, names of relatives, etc.

For Australian visa applications foreign citizens will typically need to provide an email address so the system can send their visa decision and confirmations, which is normal for online visa processing.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

The land of the free!

I don't think this will affect many Europeans as I don't know anyone who's planning on going back to America in the near future. Perhaps that's what you wanted.

Europeans crying about this when their own countries are using 1984 as an instruction manual will never cease being hilarious.

"NOOOOO you cant have my social media history only my own governments can track my every move through digital ID and public social media posts noooooo".

Crazy how clueless Trump is.

Tariffs, hits the US citizens the most, which pays extra for all imported goods. They now take some of these money, and give back to farmers. Haha. Sadly, only a small percentage of what they paid more.

This, stops people from visitting the US, meaning billions lost in tourism revenue. Clever, considering FIFA World Cup in 2026 where tourists would spend billions upon billions. Many will just stay away now.

No wonder US dept is growing and growing. Tarrifs was Trump trying to close this black hole, and it backfired like crazy.

AI is the sole reason US economy has not crashed yet. No AI and Trump would have started a new financial crisis. NASDAQ and SP500 is held up by AI and tech only.

The day AI bubble burst, will be a new financial crisis like its 2008.

Cry all you want, the US debt has been growing for decades. The easiest way to fix it would be to stop funding NATO and world police obligations and take that trillion $$$ back, but then people start throwing temper tantrums.

Minor tourism losses are not going to break the US economy.

 

[Rapob]

Europeans crying about this when their own countries are using 1984 as an instruction manual will never cease being hilarious.

"NOOOOO you cant have my social media history only my own governments can track my every move through digital ID and public social media posts noooooo".

Cry all you want, the US debt has been growing for decades. The easiest way to fix it would be to stop funding NATO and world police obligations and take that trillion $$$ back, but then people start throwing temper tantrums.

Minor tourism losses are not going to break the US economy.

US needs NATO, which is why they stay. Trump, while being completely orange, just trying to act tough as usual. Most are laughing.

He tried to threaten China with tariffs. China laughed and reponded with even higher tariffs. That is how stupid Trump is. US depends on China much more than China depends on US.

Many US citizens left the country when Trump entered the White House. Says enough. AI is the reason US economy did not sink, and that is fact. Pretty much all non-tech businesses does worse today than under Biden aka Sleepy Joe.

Those Nicknames is the only positive thing about Trump. He is clearly clueless about economy. After all, he went bankrupt multiple times and all his money comes from his dad. He had several 1 million dollars loans before he started to do well, but first when his dad died, and he inherited all his money, he did very well. That is a stupid person at work.

US citizens sreaming daily due to inflation and higher cost of everything. You must be blind or stupid. Do you even work? Or just sit in your mothers basement playing old games on dated hardware?

 

[bviktor]

Honest question: how many countries demand access to your internet personal credentials? I'm under the impression the US is not alone in this.
EDIT:
Looks like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are doing it, but there may be more.

And that makes this less dumb because... ?

 

[bviktor]

Europeans crying about this when their own countries are using 1984 as an instruction manual will never cease being hilarious.

"NOOOOO you cant have my social media history only my own governments can track my every move through digital ID and public social media posts noooooo".

Cry all you want, the US debt has been growing for decades. The easiest way to fix it would be to stop funding NATO and world police obligations and take that trillion $$$ back, but then people start throwing temper tantrums.

Minor tourism losses are not going to break the US economy.

The Copium is strong with this one.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

And that makes this less dumb because... ?

The Copium is strong with this one.

It's amazing when one tells on oneself.

US needs NATO, which is why they stay. Trump, while being completely orange, just trying to act tough as usual. Most are laughing.

He tried to threaten China with tariffs. China laughed and reponded with even higher tariffs. That is how stupid Trump is. US depends on China much more than China depends on US.

Many US citizens left the country when Trump entered the White House. Says enough. AI is the reason US economy did not sink, and that is fact. Pretty much all non-tech businesses does worse today than under Biden and Trump.

US citizens sreaming daily due to inflation and higher cost of everything. You must be blind or stupid.

Uhhh...no? The US doesn't need NATO. NATO was made to fight the Soviets, which in case you havent been paying attention, cant figure out how to take their mudball neighbor next door without taking massive casualties and losing most of their armor. The EU needs NATO, because they cant figure out how to maintain their own armies, outside of France and the UK. It's like everyone forgot how Merkel was shittalking Trump and America, how we were horrible imperialists and evil and awful, then trump just *suggested* a removal of NATO funding and suddenly she's slobber knocking him, preaching to the world how America is a great ally and NATO is so wonderful, less than 24 hours later.

That was hilarious!

"Many citizens left" LOL get off reddit and look around you. Lots of people whined that they would leave, like they do every election. Very few actually left, and only on vacation visas at that....

 

[stewi0001]

Honest question: how many countries demand access to your internet personal credentials? I'm under the impression the US is not alone in this.
EDIT:
Looks like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are doing it, but there may be more.

so much for freedom of speech

 

[Theinsanegamer]

so much for freedom of speech

Since when does the Constitution apply to foreign nationals?

 

[Rapob]

It's amazing when one tells on oneself.

Uhhh...no? The US doesn't need NATO. NATO was made to fight the Soviets, which in case you havent been paying attention, cant figure out how to take their mudball neighbor next door without taking massive casualties and losing most of their armor. The EU needs NATO, because they cant figure out how to maintain their own armies, outside of France and the UK. It's like everyone forgot how Merkel was shittalking Trump and America, how we were horrible imperialists and evil and awful, then trump just *suggested* a removal of NATO funding and suddenly she's slobber knocking him, preaching to the world how America is a great ally and NATO is so wonderful, less than 24 hours later.

That was hilarious!

"Many citizens left" LOL get off reddit and look around you. Lots of people whined that they would leave, like they do every election. Very few actually left, and only on vacation visas at that....

France, UK and every EU country is helping each other, as usual. So you make no point, admitting France/UK is strong when they all work together. LMAO.

USA needs NATO, which is why they stay.
NATO even without USA is the biggest army by far.

Nukes or not, NATO have them too but they will never become relevant, so they don't matter. Just look at Russia which has the most of all. Russia could remove USA from the map if they actually wanted. Do they? No. No country is going to use nukes, or chain reaction will go off anyway.

The best special forces in the world, is not from USA FYI.

Come again when you have actually served. Leave that basement keyboardwarrior. Go work, go do something. Your depression probably vanishes too if you do. If you can afford new shiny stuff, like me. Then you don't have to be negative in all posts (about new tech, which you can't afford).

Leave that spiral of negativity.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

France, UK and every EU country is helping each other, as usual. So you make no point, admitting France/UK is strong when they all work together. LMAO.

The EU still cant make the artillery shells they promised Ukraine 4 years ago. "working together" LMFAO.

USA needs NATO, which is why they stay.

Why do they need NATO?

NATO even without USA is the biggest army by far.

No it isnt. The US makes up the majority of NATO funding.

Without the US, NATO would collapse under its own weight. Which we should do, we dont need NATO.

Nukes or not, NATO have them too but they will never become relevant, so they don't matter. Just look at Russia which has the most of all. Russia could remove USA from the map if they actually wanted. Do they? No. No country are going to use nukes, or chain reaction will go off.

So....we dont need NATO. Gotcha.

 

[Rapob]

The EU still cant make the artillery shells they promised Ukraine 4 years ago. "working together" LMFAO.

Why do they need NATO?

No it isnt. The US makes up the majority of NATO funding.
View attachment 90744
Without the US, NATO would collapse under its own weight. Which we should do, we dont need NATO.

So....we dont need NATO. Gotcha.

Come again, now stop being clueless please.

NATO has more troops, more hardware, more everything.

USA would not stance a chance alone vs China + Russia for example. Which is why they stay. EU/NATO and China has no beef at all, and working more and more together.

USA pissed off even Canada, their closest ally. The orange man does you bad.

Also, NATO forces is improving fast. NATO will be stronger and stronger over the next years, with or without USA. USA won't go anywhere. Believe me. You will see. USA alone, even Russia won't be scared. Russia is scared of NATO. They will never set a foot in a NATO country, for this reason. Article 5.

Btw, do you know how many times Article 5 has been used? Once. When the twin towers were attacked in 2021. NATO/EU helped and went to war for USA for years. EU never asked for help. Ukraine is not NATO or EU. Atleast not in anytime soon.

NATO vs USA | Comparison military strength

North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United States armed forces comparison. Here you can graphically compare chosen parameters

armedforces.eu

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Come again, now stop being clueless please.

NATO has more troops, more hardware, more everything.

USA would not stance a chance alone vs China + Russia for example. Which is why they stay. EU/NATO and China has no beef at all, and working more and more together too.

NATO vs USA | Comparison military strength

North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United States armed forces comparison. Here you can graphically compare chosen parameters

armedforces.eu

Ok, you're getting closer.

Now how many of those are ours? You do know that this "NATO army" is the army of all NATO nations, right? It's not a seperate army.

 

[Rapob]

Ok, you're getting closer.

Now how many of those are ours? You do know that this "NATO army" is the army of all NATO nations, right? It's not a seperate army.

Look at the link or image, which seperates USA and NATO without USA forces.
Clearly USA is not that strong without all the other NATO countries.

Why do you think USA stay? Even Trump would not leave NATO he might say he will, big difference. That is just Trump being Trump. He is a business man. Scare tactics 101.

USA might have nukes, but who cares, many countries have but no country can use them and Russia has the most and strongest anyway.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Look at the link or image, which seperates USA and NATO without USA forces.
NATO wins.

USA might have nukes, but who cares, many countries have but no country can use them and Russia has the most and strongest anyway.

"NATO wins"

ROFL no. 20 carrier groups vs 8. You've immediately lost any conflict with the US. Not to mention those 8 are dependent on.....US fighter jets to be of any use. Oops.

And did you forget we're funding that military for you?

IDK why you keep bringing up nukes, the fact we have them only further reinforces how pointless NATO is for the US. Russia has 0 force projection over the ocean, theyc ant even reach us, and china has 3, 2 of which are copies of the disastrous Russian design.

In a US VS russia, china war, the US comes out on top. Easily. The Chinese cant even build tanks with stabilized gun turrets FFS. It's not 1935 anymore.

 

[Rapob]

"NATO wins"

ROFL no. 20 carrier groups vs 8. You've immediately lost any conflict with the US. Not to mention those 8 are dependent on.....US fighter jets to be of any use. Oops.

And did you forget we're funding that military for you?

IDK why you keep bringing up nukes, the fact we have them only further reinforces how pointless NATO is for the US.

You are funding nothing but your own military.

France, UK, Turkey, all have nukes, NATO members with no intention to leave NATO. NATO have nukes with or without USA.

I keep bringing up nukes, because they matter for security but won't really work in an actual war, unless you want to exterminate the entire planet maybe.

 

[Rapob]

"NATO wins"

ROFL no. 20 carrier groups vs 8. You've immediately lost any conflict with the US. Not to mention those 8 are dependent on.....US fighter jets to be of any use. Oops.

And did you forget we're funding that military for you?

IDK why you keep bringing up nukes, the fact we have them only further reinforces how pointless NATO is for the US. Russia has 0 force projection over the ocean, theyc ant even reach us, and china has 3, 2 of which are copies of the disastrous Russian design.

In a US VS russia, china war, the US comes out on top. Easily. The Chinese cant even build tanks with stabilized gun turrets FFS. It's not 1935 anymore.

Haha. Population of USA is not even 350 million. You do know that we are 8+ billion on this planet right?

China has like twice the military manpower of USA. Willing to actually die in combat, not like the 5-9 soldiers of the USA army.

A war between USA and China would not be pretty. Let me just tell you that. If you think USA will win easy, I have bad news for you. Russia would probably step in to help China too. So would several other Asia countries probably. Who would USA lean on? No NATO? Good luck.

And this is why USA keeps being part of NATO. Again, the only time NATO Article 5 has been used, was when USA needed help after attack on WTC.

Trump just acted like he would leave NATO, to make NATO countries increase their military expenses, and it worked. So all are happy. USA never actually wanted to leave NATO, just to make NATO even stronger.

 

[torvuswalds]

Since when does the Constitution apply to foreign nationals?

Whenever they are in the country, specifically they are entitled to the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 16th amendment. And coincidentally they are allowed to sue in the US, so if they can argue that the 4th amendment guarantees them a right of unreasonable search and seizures, ipso facto, you're dumb.

 

[godrilla]

Will they be using ai to analyze all that data? Also would the triggered terrorist attack before Thanksgiving mentioned be prevented with this measure? This is currently in the proposal stage and not actually being practiced now. What if you do not have an online footprint and or use troll accounts lol. The importance of having parallel accounts.

 

[Liranan]

Crazy how clueless Trump is.

Tariffs, hits the US citizens the most, which pays extra for all imported goods. They now take some of these money, and give back to farmers. Haha. Sadly, only a small percentage of what they paid more.

This, stops people from visitting the US, meaning billions lost in tourism revenue. Clever, considering FIFA World Cup in 2026 where tourists would spend billions upon billions. Many will just stay away now.

No wonder US dept is growing and growing. Tarrifs was Trump trying to close this black hole, and it backfired like crazy.

AI is the sole reason US economy has not crashed yet. No AI and Trump would have started a new financial crisis. NASDAQ and SP500 is held up by AI and tech only.

The day AI bubble burst, will be a new financial crisis like its 2008.

My sister was denied a special status visa (even though citizens of my country not requiring a visa to visit the US) to work with the FBI under the Obama misadministration due to the State Department being above the law. After multiple denials the FBI stepped in to force the psychopaths at the State Department approve her application.

 

[Neatfeatguy]

Not sure why anyone is crying about this.

How about you just do the proper grownup thing and not use social media? No one actually cares about what you ate or where you visited or how how you posted something that PWNED someone (pwned still thing?)

Stop feeding all your personal info out into these companies and every other person in the world, stop using social media.

 

[magoid]

Don't know where you're getting that information from about Australia.

Currently there is no requirement for foreign tourists or visitors just arriving in the country to hand over their email accounts, social media accounts/passwords, names of relatives, etc.

For Australian visa applications foreign citizens will typically need to provide an email address so the system can send their visa decision and confirmations, which is normal for online visa processing.

So, when arriving at the airport if a agent find you "suspect", they cannot demand access to online accounts, like they do in the US?