On Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection filed a proposal that would require tourists from 42 countries to submit up to five years of their social media history in order to enter the United States. The requirement will affect citizens from nations eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which includes most European countries, as well as other developed nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
The program currently requires tourists from eligible countries to fill out a short application and pay a $40 fee before coming to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. While the application has allowed visitors to list their social media accounts since 2016, this newest proposal will make doing so mandatory. In addition to submitting years of posts for analysis, prospective tourists may also have to provide years of telephone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, and information about family members.
