Khaberni - Within the framework of strict security policies reshaping travel rules, the United States is moving towards expanding the entry requirements for visitors through new procedures affecting tourists' digital and personal data.
The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to issue an order requiring visa-exempt foreign tourists to reveal their social media records for the past five years before allowing them entry into the United States, according to an official notice.
According to "France Press" agency, this proposal, which was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, applies to visitors from 42 countries, including the UK, France, Australia, and Japan, which do not require their citizens to obtain a visa before entering the United States.
Currently, these travelers simply apply for a Visa Waiver known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which requires them to provide a limited set of basic personal data.
Under the new proposed rules, collecting data from social media sites will become a mandatory part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization applications, representing a significant expansion in the scope of information required from visitors.
According to the official notice, applicants will need to disclose their social media account records for the past five years as part of the security screening procedures before traveling.
They will also need to provide additional "important" data, including phone numbers used over the past five years, email addresses over the past ten years, as well as personal data concerning their family members, along with biometric information.
The notice stated that the public comment period on this proposal would remain open for 60 days, allowing the public and relevant entities to provide their opinions and feedback before finalizing the rules.
This step comes in the context of the Trump administration tightening restrictions on entry into the United States as part of a broader campaign to combat immigration and tighten security screening procedures at the borders.
In this context, the significance of these new measures emerges as the United States prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in partnership with Mexico and Canada, an event that is expected to attract large numbers of fans from around the world.
