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The Trump administration has proposed requiring citizens of 42 visa-exempt countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Japan, to disclose five years of social media history before entering the United States.
The proposal, published Tuesday in the Federal Register, would make social media disclosure mandatory for applicants using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, the visa waiver program currently used by millions of travelers annually. The provision has been optional under ESTA since its inception.
Under the proposed rules, applicants would also be required to submit phone numbers from the past five years, email addresses from the past decade, family member information and biometric data.
Social media disclosure has been required for tourist visa applicants since 2019. Student visa applicants were directed in June to make their social media profiles public, with the same requirement taking effect Monday for H-1B skilled worker visa applicants.
Legal experts told The Washington Post the measures represent an effort to restrict critical online speech.
The proposal has raised concerns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with fears the requirements could result in fans being denied entry.
The public comment period closes in early January, 60 days from the notice’s publication date.
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