The United States is set to introduce one of its biggest security-screening expansions yet, with plans to make five years of social-media history compulsory for all travellers entering the country under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
According to a new notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the updated requirements will soon be published in the Federal Register, signalling a major shift in how the US vets millions of visitors each year.
Under the proposed changes, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will no longer treat social-media disclosure as optional.
US Customs and Border Protection says the move aligns with Executive Order 14161, signed in January 2025, which mandates stronger identity verification to detect security threats, prevent fr@ud and enhance national-security checks.
But the overhaul goes far beyond social media. The US may now require:
• 📧 Email addresses used in the past 10 years
• 📱 Phone numbers from the last 5 years
• 🌐 IP address history
• 🖼️ Photo metadata
• 👪 Expanded family information
• 🧬 Additional biometrics including facial recognition, fingerprints, iris scans and DNA
Another significant change is the plan to shut down the ESTA website permanently, moving all submissions to a dedicated mobile app — a major shift for a system that processes over 14 million applications annually.
DHS will accept public comments on these proposals for 60 days after publication. If approved, the rules would mark a historic expansion of digital-identity and online-activity review in US immigration policy.
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