US to ask tourists for 5-year social media history before entering the country

The United States will require tourists from dozens of countries, including Albania, to submit the full 5-year history of their social media accounts as a condition of entering American territory - this is according to a new proposal published by American authorities, writes the BBC.

This new measure will affect citizens of dozens of countries who can currently travel to the US for up to 90 days without a visa, simply by completing the online ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) form.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump has significantly tightened border policies, always citing national security as the main reason.

Experts say the new requirement could create major obstacles for tourists and could infringe on their digital rights and privacy.

The proposal comes at a time when the US is expecting a large influx of foreign tourists: in 2026 it will co-host the World Cup in soccer (along with Canada and Mexico), while in 2028 it will host the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The document was filed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was published in the Federal Register – the official journal of the US federal government.

"This new data element will require ESTA applicants to provide information on social media used over the past 5 years," the text states briefly, without providing details on what specific data will be requested (e.g. only account names or even the content of posts).

In addition to social networks, the proposal also envisages collecting phone numbers used over the last 10 years, emails used over the last five years and more detailed information about family members.

Currently, ESTA costs $40 and is issued to citizens of around 40 countries (including Albania, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, etc.), allowing entry to the US for a period of 2 years.