U.S. Proposal Would Require Foreign Visitors To Hand Over 5 Years Of Social Media History

The Trump administration has proposed a rule that would require all foreign visitors to the United States to provide their social media histories for the past five years as a condition of entry, according to a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register.

What the Proposal Would Collect

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says the information would be mandatory for new entrants regardless of whether they normally require a visa or travel under a visa‑waiver program (such as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA). In addition to social media histories, CBP would collect:

• Email addresses and telephone numbers used in the last five years
• Names and addresses of family members and other contact details from the past five years

Timeline, Context and Reactions

The Department of Homeland Security had not immediately responded to requests for comment. The Federal Register notice gives the public 60 days to submit feedback on the proposal.

Advocacy groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have criticized recent moves by the government to scrutinize applicants' online activity. In June, the State Department said certain visa applicants would have to make some social media profiles public; more recently it expanded an "online presence" review to include H-1B applicants and their dependents. Civil liberties advocates say these measures risk chilling speech and enabling broad surveillance of foreign nationals.

Why Now?

Officials point to national security and immigration enforcement as drivers of tighter screening. The proposal comes as the U.S. prepares to host FIFA World Cup events next year, which is expected to increase the number of international visitors, including travelers from visa‑waiver countries. The administration has also moved to tighten other immigration rules this year following recent high-profile incidents; authorities have charged an Afghan national in a shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.; he has pleaded not guilty.

What’s next: The public review period lasts 60 days from the Federal Register notice; stakeholders and individuals may submit comments during that time.

This report was originally published on NBCNews.com.