Tourists from dozens of countries including the UK could be asked to provide a five-year social media history as a condition of entry to the United States, under a new proposal unveiled by American officials.
The proposal which was posted on the Federal Register by US Customs and Border Protection, suggests travellers coming from countries that are part of a visa waiver program would need to give additional personal information as part of an electronic application.
Visitors using the online system are currently asked for information such as their passport and birth date, as well as any past criminal record.
The proposed changes to the visa waiver application include making provision of social media history mandatory and adding “high value data elements,” including the person’s phone numbers and email addresses over the prior five years, plus close family members’ names and birth dates, along with their birthplaces, residences and phone numbers over the prior five years.
