By Gloria Nosa
The United States is preparing to introduce sweeping new security requirements for citizens of countries that enjoy visa-free entry, proposing that all applicants under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) submit five years’ worth of social media history.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled the draft policy on Wednesday, describing it as part of a broader upgrade to identity verification tools used to screen millions of travellers who visit the U.S. each year without a visa.
From Optional to Mandatory Disclosure
While ESTA applicants are currently encouraged — but not compelled — to list their social media handles, the new rule would make such disclosure compulsory.
A DHS notice outlining the change said applicants would be required to provide “all social media identifiers used in the last five years,” making it the strictest digital-history requirement ever proposed in the programme’s two-decade existence.
Extensive Data Collection Proposed
The planned update goes far beyond social media. Under the proposal, travellers would also need to submit:
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Email addresses used within the past 10 years
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Phone numbers active in the last five years
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IP address history
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Metadata linked to uploaded photos
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Expanded biographical details of family members
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Enhanced biometric data, including facial scans, fingerprints, iris patterns and DNA samples
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the enhanced data capture is aimed at spotting identity fraud, filtering out high-risk applicants, and tightening national security oversight.
Mobile-Only System on the Way
As part of the revamp, DHS also plans to phase out the existing ESTA web portal and move the entire application process to a mobile app-only platform.
Millions of Travellers to Be Affected
If adopted, the rules would apply to citizens of the 40 countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Programme — a system that processes more than 14 million ESTA applications each year.
The new measures are linked to the implementation of Executive Order 14161, signed in January 2025, which directs federal agencies to upgrade screening systems to better detect potential foreign threats.
Real-World Impact Already Visible
Reports indicate that digital activity is increasingly influencing immigration decisions. In one widely cited case, a French researcher was denied entry in March after border officials reviewed posts on his device and interpreted them as sympathetic to terrorism.
Privacy Concerns Mount
Civil liberties groups have warned that mandatory disclosure of online history could chill free expression and expose travellers to invasive scrutiny of their private communications.
DHS, however, maintains that the reforms are essential for safeguarding U.S. borders and reflect modern expectations for identity security.
If enacted, the changes would mark one of the largest expansions of digital background checks in the history of U.S. immigration policy.
