Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has put forth a new proposal that could see foreign tourists required to reveal their social media activity from the past five years. This change, suggested on Tuesday, is part of a broader effort to enhance national security measures.

The proposal stems from a directive to adhere to Executive Order 14161, issued in January 2025, titled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” As detailed in a federal register announcement, CBP intends to make social media information a mandatory component of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application.

This requirement would affect travelers from 42 countries that currently participate in the visa waiver program. The goal is to compile more comprehensive “baseline biographic data” by incorporating additional “high value data fields,” which include social media activity.