US to Require Social Media and Extensive Personal Data for ESTA Applicants
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to make social media (SNS) account information mandatory for visitors applying under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Applicants would have to submit SNS accounts used in the past five years, plus phone numbers from the past five years, emails from the past ten years, IP addresses of submitted photos, extensive family details (names, birthdates, birthplaces, residences, phone numbers), biometric data (face, fingerprints, DNA, iris), past five years’ employer contacts and past ten years’ work emails. ESTA allows eligible short-term visitors (up to 90 days) to enter the U.S. without a visa; it is commonly used by South Korean travelers. Critics warn the move could chill travel and free expression, prompt self-censorship, and discourage visits to the U.S., harming tourism, business, and America’s international reputation. CBP will hold a 60-day public comment period before implementing the change.
