PROPOSAL SEEKS TO EXPAND SECURITY VETTING, BUT PRIVACY AND CIVIL-LIBERTIES GROUPS WARN OF OVERREACH
U.S. officials are considering a policy that would require foreign tourists to disclose five years of their social-media activity as part of entry screening.
The U.S. government is evaluating a proposal that would require foreign visitors to submit five years of social-media history when applying for entry or travel authorization, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The measure is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen security vetting at U.S. borders.
Supporters of the proposal argue that social-media screening provides an additional tool for identifying potential security risks, supplementing existing background checks, visa interviews and biometric data. They say the growing role of online behavior in terrorist recruitment and organized crime makes digital-footprint reviews increasingly relevant.
Privacy advocates, however, warn that requiring years of personal social-media content could infringe on civil liberties and deter legitimate travel. They caution that the measure may subject visitors to broad surveillance, subjective interpretation of posts and potential discrimination based on political views, humor or cultural expression.
Policy analysts note that the U.S. has already experimented with voluntary social-media disclosure on visa forms in recent years. The new proposal would make the requirement mandatory, significantly expanding the scope of data collected from millions of tourists worldwide.
Critics also raise concerns about how the U.S. would store, verify and protect the vast troves of personal data involved, particularly amid rising global scrutiny over data-security practices.
The proposal is still under review and would require formal rulemaking before implementation. Officials say no final decision has been made, and public feedback will likely play a major role in shaping the next steps.
