WASHINGTON, D.C.: Even citizens of countries that can enter the United States without a visa, such as the U.K. and most of Europe, may soon be required to submit information about their social media and email accounts, as well as extensive family history, to the Department of Homeland Security before being approved for travel.
According to the notice published this week in the Federal Register, the Customs and Border Protection could be authorized to collect five years' worth of social media information from such travelers. This is part of the Trump administration's move to monitor international travelers and immigrants.
Citizens of some 40 mostly European and Asian countries who travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to three months without visas are part of the Visa Waiver Program. They submit their information to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which automatically screens them and approves them for travel to the U.S. They generally do not need to visit an embassy or consulate for interviews.
The CBP would start requesting a list of other information, including telephone numbers the person has used over the past five years or email addresses used over the past decade. Also sought would be metadata from electronically submitted photos, as well as extensive information from the applicant's family members, including their places of birth and their telephone numbers.
The application that people are now required to fill out to take part in ESTA asks for a more limited set of questions, such as parents' names and current email address.
Asked whether he was concerned the measure might affect tourism to the U.S., President Donald Trump said, "We want safety, we want security, we want to make sure we're not letting the wrong people come into our country."
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed changes before they go into effect, the notice said. The rule hasn't yet gone into effect and wasn't finalized.
The new rules apply to people trying to enter the U.S. and those already living in the country. Officials have tightened visa requirements, requiring applicants to make all their social media accounts public so authorities can review them for potentially negative content. According to State Department guidelines, refusing to make an account public can lead to a visa denial.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services now also looks at whether someone applying for benefits, such as a green card, has "endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused" anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views.
Immigration and Free-Speech Advocates Concerned
This increased focus on social media screening has raised concerns among immigration and free-speech advocates, who worry about what the Trump administration is seeking and whether these measures could target people critical of the administration, potentially infringing on free-speech rights.
Since January, the Trump administration has stepped up checks on immigrants and travelers, both those trying to enter the U.S. and those already in the country. Officials have tightened visa rules by requiring applicants to set all their social media accounts to public so they can be more easily scrutinized and checked for what authorities view as potentially derogatory information. Refusing to set an account to public can be considered grounds for visa denial, according to guidelines provided by the State Department.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services now considers whether an applicant for benefits, such as a green card, "endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused" anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views.
The heightened interest in social media screening has raised concerns among immigration and free-speech advocates about what the Trump administration is seeking and whether the measures target people critical of the administration, potentially infringing on free-speech rights.
