WASHINGTON: Travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program could soon face mandatory checks of up to five years of their social media history, under a proposal filed by US Customs and Border Protection.
The measure would apply to citizens of countries including Britain, France, Germany, and South Korea, who currently do not need a traditional visa to visit the United States, reports The New York Times.
The plan builds on existing rules introduced in 2019, which already require most US visa applicants to list all social media identifiers used over the previous five years. Immigration authorities can also inspect electronic devices and review publicly available online information at ports of entry. Officials say refusal to cooperate during such checks may result in denial of entry.
Civil liberties groups have raised concerns that “optional” disclosure could in practice become a condition for entry, arguing that travelers are unlikely to refuse a request by border authorities. The proposal would not formally change visa-free entry rules, but analysts say expanded screening could amount to indirect vetting of political opinions and personal communications online.
US authorities maintain the policy is intended to strengthen national security, detect misrepresentation and identify potential threats. Critics, however, warn that routine inspection of personal data risks undermining privacy rights and could discourage travel from close US partners.
