US to expand social media screening for visa-free travelers

The U.S. plans to increase scrutiny of travelers’ online activity as part of new border security measures. Under a proposal announced earlier this month, visitors from countries eligible for visa-free entry under the Visa Waiver Program — including most of Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea — may be required to provide up to five years of social media history and all email addresses used over the past 10 years, the BBC reported.

The proposal is currently open for public comment and is expected to take effect on Feb. 8 next year. While full details have not yet been released, the initiative reflects a broader trend of heightened attention by U.S. authorities to travelers’ digital activity.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), reviewing electronic devices and online activity helps officials assess a traveler’s intent and identify potential security risks. Under the Visa Waiver Program, travelers must comply with officials’ requests or risk being denied entry.

Once the proposal is adopted, digital footprints — including social media posts, images, memes and comments — may be used to determine whether an individual is permitted to enter the country.

To avoid potential problems with international travel, experts suggest that visitors should be careful about what they post online, especially about politics, public figures or sensitive cultural topics.

Meanwhile, in its effort to tighten immigration policies, the U.S. government has recently suspended the green card lottery, citing its alleged use by the individual accused of the fatal shooting at Brown University and murder of an MIT professor.