US May Require 5-Year Social Media History for Tourists
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The US government is proposing to substantially expand the data collected from travelers applying for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
Key Changes Proposed:
* Social Media Data: Collection of social media handles.
* Extensive Personal Data: Requests for phone numbers and email addresses from the past 5-10 years,and more detailed family information.
* Affected Travelers: This impacts travelers from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, including the UK and Japan, who use ESTA rather of a visa for short visits.
Context & Concerns:
* Justification: The proposal is linked to a Trump-era executive order focused on national security and preventing terrorism.
* privacy Concerns: Digital rights groups (like the Electronic frontier Foundation) worry about civil liberties harms.
* Practical Impacts: Immigration lawyers suggest the increased data collection could lead to longer processing times for ESTA approvals.
* previous Actions: The Trump management had already begun examining social media for student and skilled worker visa applicants, requiring public profiles for screening.
The public has 60 days to provide feedback on the proposed changes.