U.S. mulls requiring travelers to disclose online history and biometrics, pitting national security against privacy
By ramontomeydw // 2025-12-13
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  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a rule requiring travelers from visa-waiver countries (like the U.K. and Japan) to disclose five years of social media history, ten years of contact information, and biometric data when applying for travel authorization.
  • The proposal eliminates the option to skip social media disclosure, significantly expanding government surveillance and raising alarms among privacy advocates and the travel industry over threats to free expression and privacy.
  • Critics argue the policy grants border agents unchecked authority to scrutinize personal beliefs and associations, which could deter travelers and pressure individuals to self-censor or delete old online posts to avoid misinterpretation.
  • The U.S. travel industry warns the intrusive requirements could further dampen tourism, projecting major revenue losses, and notes the policy was announced without prior consultation with key stakeholders.
  • The move represents a major escalation in digital surveillance, drawing comparisons to systems like China's social credit, and centers on a debate over where to draw the line between security and the erosion of privacy and fundamental freedoms.
In a sweeping expansion of government surveillance powers, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to mandate that travelers from visa-waiver countries disclose five years of social media history. It also considers requiring travelers to share a decade's worth of email addresses, phone numbers and – when feasible – biometric data including fingerprints, DNA and iris scans. The DHS outlined its proposed rule in a Federal Register notice published on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Under the proposed rule, visitors from 42 countries – including the U.K., Germany, Japan and Australia – would no longer have the option to skip social media disclosures when applying for travel authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The proposal marks a significant escalation in the government's digital dragnet. It has also raised alarms among privacy advocates, immigration attorneys and tourism industry leaders who warn of chilling effects on free expression and international travel. The DHS claims the expansion aligns with a recent executive order aimed at preventing "terrorist entry," but the notice offers no specifics on how social media posts – whether political commentary, satire or private messages – will be assessed for risk. Critics argue the policy grants Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents unchecked authority to scrutinize personal beliefs, associations and even humor – potentially deterring travelers from nations with contentious relationships with the United States. "This hasn't proven effective at stopping threats, but it does normalize mass surveillance," said Sophia Cope, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She echoed concerns that the rule could pressure travelers to self-censor or delete old posts to avoid misinterpretation.

Safety vs. surveillance: Washington shifts to digital border control

The U.S. travel industry, already reeling from pandemic losses, fears the new requirements could further dampen tourism. Analysts project a $12.5 billion drop in travel revenue this year, with visits at a five-year low. Adding layers of scrutiny without clear justification will only push visitors elsewhere, warned a coalition of tourism groups, which has also opposed a separate $250 visa "integrity fee." Historical context underscores the stakes: Since 2016, when social media questions first appeared on ESTA forms, DHS has steadily widened its digital net, from mandating platform handles to now seeking metadata and biometrics. The shift mirrors China's "social credit" system, where behavior online affects real-world privileges – a model civil libertarians say the U.S. must avoid. Meanwhile, the lack of public consultation before the rule's announcement has drawn ire. One travel official said CBP hadn't briefed stakeholders, noting that the 60-day comment period offers scant time to challenge the policy's scope. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, Washington's plan to require travelers to disclose their social media activity before granting visas dangerously expands government surveillance. This, in turn, erodes privacy rights and enables censorship of dissenting views under the guise of "national security." As the debate unfolds, the proposal raises a pivotal question: Should a nation founded on freedoms subject visitors to a digital panopticon, where every tweet or like becomes fodder for border agents? The line between security and surveillance grows ever thinner, with biometrics and analytics driven by artificial intelligence. For now, the public has until the comment period closes to weigh in – but the trajectory seems clear. In the name of safety, the U.S. is trading privacy for control, one social media profile at a time. The DHS's latest move signals not just a policy shift but a cultural one, where borders extend beyond physical checkpoints into the digital lives of millions. Watch this video about the DHS screening the social media activity of illegal aliens. This video is from the Loki Luck III channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: AlJazeera.com TheCradle.co BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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