Overview

The US government is proposing notable changes to the data collected from travelers entering the country under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). These changes, ⁢outlined in a notice published in the Federal Register on December 11, 2025, would require applicants for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval to submit up to five ⁢years of social media data, email addresses, and⁢ extensive family history.

Details of the Proposed Changes

Currently,ESTA ⁤applicants provide basic biographical information,travel plans,and answers to eligibility questions. The proposed rule, published by⁢ US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Federal Register,⁣ seeks to expand this significantly. Specifically,CBP intends to collect:

• Social Media data: Up to five years of social ⁤media handles and search history from platforms used by the ⁤applicant.
• Email ⁤Addresses: All ‍current and previous email addresses used by the applicant.
• Family‍ History: Detailed information about the applicant’s parents, grandparents, and ⁣other close relatives, including⁣ places of ⁣birth and dates.
• Biometric Data: The notice also alludes to potential future collection of biometric data.

The CBP states‍ the purpose ⁣of this expanded data collection is to identify individuals who may pose a threat to national security or public safety. ⁤ the proposal affects‍ travelers from 42 countries currently participating in the ⁣Visa Waiver Program.A ⁢list of participating countries⁤ can be found on the State⁢ Department’s website.

CBP’s Justification and Concerns

CBP argues that this expanded data collection ⁤is necessary ⁤to enhance ⁣vetting procedures and⁤ counter evolving ⁢threats. They cite the increasing use of social media by individuals involved in criminal and terrorist activities‍ as justification. However, the⁤ proposal has raised concerns regarding:

• Privacy: The extent of ⁢personal information being ⁣requested raises significant privacy concerns for travelers.
• effectiveness: ⁤Critics question ⁣whether the collected data will genuinely improve security or simply generate a ‍large volume of irrelevant information.
• Discrimination: Concerns ⁢have been raised that the data collection ‍could disproportionately affect individuals from certain countries or ‍backgrounds.
• impact on Tourism: The added complexity and potential for denial of entry could deter tourism from VWP countries.

Timeline and How to Submit Comments

The proposed rule ⁢was ⁤published in the Federal Register on⁢ December 11, 2025.⁢ The public has a limited time to submit comments on the proposed changes. The deadline for comments is ⁣[[[[Insert Comment Period End Date – based on federal Register notice].

Comments can ⁤be⁢ submitted electronically through the⁣ regulations.gov website. The docket number for this proposed rule is 2025-22461. The notice in the Federal Register explicitly states that comments should be submitted before ⁣the‍ rule ⁣is