U.S. Takes Major Step Forward In Border Security With Sweeping Changes To ESTA, Requiring Social Media And High-Value Data Collection

The U.S. is set to implement significant changes to the ESTA program, expanding data collection requirements to include social media history, biometrics, and personal contact details. This move is designed to enhance national security by allowing more thorough screening of travelers before they even board flights to the U.S. The proposed changes, which represent one of the largest overhauls since the program’s launch, aim to prevent potential threats and strengthen border protection, reflecting growing concerns over security in an increasingly interconnected world.

The United States is planning a significant overhaul of its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), introducing much stricter data-collection rules for travelers who use the program. The proposal, recently published in the Federal Register by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), outlines the expansion of personal information collected from travelers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA currently allows citizens from 42 countries to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without requiring a consular interview. Under the new guidelines, the scope of information required will vastly increase, including the collection of up to five years of social media history, which could dramatically change the entry process for millions of international visitors.

At present, the ESTA application is relatively straightforward. It asks basic details, such as the names of a traveler’s parents, their email addresses, and any criminal history. A social media question has been included since 2016, but it has been optional until now. Under the new proposal, however, this information will become mandatory. The plan aims to create a more comprehensive profile of each traveler, enhancing the government’s ability to screen travelers before they are allowed to board flights to the U.S.

The shift toward collecting more in-depth data stems from growing concerns about national security. The U.S. government has faced increasing pressure to strengthen its screening procedures to prevent potential threats from entering the country. The proposed rule would require travelers to disclose social media usernames used in the last five years, email addresses used over the past ten years, and phone numbers used in the last five years. While ESTA currently allows for near-instant approval, the new process could introduce significant delays as the government would need more time to conduct thorough background checks.

This expansion is one of the most significant changes to the program since its inception. It signals a new era of more intense security checks for those traveling under the VWP. Social media has already played a role in visa applications, with the Trump administration introducing a requirement for visa applicants to submit social media information. Under the current rules, visa applicants are asked to provide social media handles used in the past five years. This policy has continued under the Biden administration, but now the same scrutiny is set to apply to those traveling under the ESTA program.

One of the most notable aspects of the proposal is the addition of “high-value data fields,” which would include metadata from photos travelers upload, as well as more extensive details about family members, such as their birthplaces and past contact numbers. These fields could also encompass biometric data such as fingerprints, iris scans, and potentially even DNA samples. This level of data collection would be unprecedented for VWP travelers, who have historically been subject to less scrutiny than those applying for standard visas.

The CBP has stated that these measures are part of fulfilling a broader executive order issued by President Donald Trump, which mandated the implementation of stronger screening measures for those entering the U.S. While the order originally applied to visa applicants, the new rules would extend the requirement to travelers using ESTA, further tightening the U.S. entry process for citizens of Visa Waiver countries.

Despite the expanded scope of data collection, the administration has not yet disclosed exactly how it will analyze social media accounts or what specific aspects of social media history it will look at. Given the highly personal nature of social media data, this raises significant concerns about privacy and the potential for overreach. Social media accounts often contain detailed personal information, including political views, religious beliefs, and even private conversations. Critics of the proposed changes argue that this level of surveillance may violate individual privacy rights and could lead to discrimination or bias in the screening process.

However, the U.S. government defends the proposed changes, emphasizing that the expanded data collection will enhance national security by allowing authorities to better screen travelers before they board flights to the country. The goal is to prevent individuals who may pose a security threat from entering the U.S. by identifying them before they even arrive at the airport. In theory, this could help prevent attacks, terrorist activities, or other forms of violence by targeting individuals with ties to extremist groups or criminal activities.

The public will have a chance to provide feedback on the proposed rule during a 60-day comment period. During this time, individuals and organizations will be able to submit their concerns, suggestions, or support for the changes. Once the comment period ends, CBP will review the feedback and make any necessary adjustments before implementing the new regulations. If approved, the expanded data collection will alter the entry process for millions of travelers who currently rely on ESTA’s speed and convenience.

For many international travelers, ESTA has long been a convenient and fast way to visit the U.S. without the hassle of a traditional visa application. The online system, which typically provides approval within minutes of submission, has allowed millions of people to travel for tourism, business, or other purposes without the need for a lengthy and often expensive visa application process. However, with the proposed changes, travelers may face a much more detailed and time-consuming process.

The new data requirements would force travelers to disclose far more personal information than ever before, making the entry process significantly more invasive. The expanded data collection is expected to lead to more thorough vetting, but it could also result in longer approval times, and travelers may find themselves waiting days, or even weeks, for their ESTA approval.

The proposed rule has drawn mixed reactions from travelers, privacy advocates, and legal experts. While some argue that the enhanced security measures are necessary in a world where international travel is often intertwined with national security risks, others express concerns about the balance between security and personal privacy. There are worries that the government could misuse the information collected or that it could be used to discriminate against certain groups of people.

The expansion of data collection under ESTA is a sign of the increasing intersection between travel, technology, and national security concerns. In the era of global connectivity, the ability to gather and analyze vast amounts of data from travelers is becoming a key component of border security. The proposed changes represent a major step forward in how the U.S. screens foreign visitors, but they also raise important questions about privacy, personal freedoms, and the future of international travel.

As the 60-day comment period unfolds, travelers and advocacy groups will continue to voice their opinions on the proposed rule. Whether or not the expanded data collection will become the norm for all travelers remains to be seen, but it is clear that U.S. immigration policies are evolving in response to growing security concerns. Should these new requirements take effect, millions of travelers who currently enjoy streamlined entry into the U.S. may find that the process becomes more difficult, time-consuming, and invasive.

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