Prepare for your social media to be scrutinized when entering the U.S.

Why do they need to do this? The US authorities and secret services already broke any privacy from people who use any US based products or saved data in social media and other content (PRISM plus various other solutions).

Travelers without US citizenship shall also know that they have no rights anyway by US constitution.

Before everyone loses their "stuff," this is just a proposal and not a done deal. Lots of things are proposed and then never happen.

If enacted, this would devistate the travel and tourism industry in the US. Local, state and the federal government would suffer as well.

It is estimated that in 2025, foreign visitors will spend around $170 billion dollars while in the US. This proposal would cause a good number of people not to come. It would not only affect businesses but also governments due to less taxes being collected on that money and increased unemployment.

The government already has the right to question people coming in and go through your phone. This proposal wants people to provide this ahead of time. Many won't bother and visit somewhere else.

This would not affect US citizens.

In regard to the comment of not having rights...well...when you land on US soil and until you clear immigration, no one has Constitutional rights as you have not officially "entered" the US. While Americans can't be denied entry as long as they can prove they are US citizens, foreigners can be sent home. But that's the case in most countries. If denied entry, you are gone. No lawyers, no hearings.

I agree with Frank. Life is too short to worry about all the things that “might” happen.

If implemented it will probably mean that I'll be barred because the thin skinned man child won't like what I think of him. Not that I have any intention of visiting the US for the foreseeable.

FrankII thank you for a response that is rational and I believe complies with the forum rules.

I think the other thing working against many changes is going to be that the reasons behind the ETSA game havent changed. Some may recall that after 911 there was a cry in many circles that everyone entering be required to get a Visa as a way of eliminating some of the bad folks from getting in. But others realized a blanket visa requirement would result in equal retaliation, US citizens needing visas. Not such a good thing. So they renamed the visa ETSA and made it as simple as possible. With the new rules, calling it "not a visa" really may not fly and US citizens may find themselves applying for visas to enter the EU.

US tourism has dropped in 2025, with projections showing about an 8.2% decline in international visitors and a loss of around $12.5 billion in spending by year-end compared to 2024.

It seems adopting policies that devastate tourism is no longer the barrier one would have assumed.

I would hope Frank II is right that it would be nonstarter. But then here we are-- already down 12 billion so, yeah, who knows for sure.

I think as a precaution I am going starting posting under a pseudonym -- maybe Punxsutawney Phil!

Happy travels.

I don't see the point of this, but that being said, I can tell you from my experience living in the Charleston area that the government is firmly on the side of those making money from tourists, so this won't happen.

I don't know where y'all have been but Canadians are boycotting the US, so for those of us in the Northern reaches of the US, all along the border, we are already feeling those missing dollars.

And the current administration DOESN'T care. That includes non border states.

It’s not your own social media that can be scrutinized. If the new proposal is accepted, visitors would also need to supply the names, birth dates, places of residence and birthplaces of parents, spouses, siblings and children.

Having to give your own information is one thing. I’m however not prepared to give all this personal information of my close relatives, just because I would like to visit the USA. So, if this proposal is accepted I won’t be traveling to the USA any more.

I don't know where y'all have been but Canadians are boycotting the US, so for those of us in the Northern reaches of the US, all along the border, we are already feeling those missing dollars.

As is Florida. I have a house for sale that was owned by my late Father in a retirement community that was VERY popular with Canadians... since they aren't coming (and selling) the market there is flooded and nothing is moving. Restaurants and shops are also noting the slowdown.

I remember prior to the war with Ukraine that Russia was on my potential destination list but once I started reading of the entry requirements I decided it probably wasn't worth the effort. The US seems to be on track for that as well; above and beyond the current choices by many to go elsewhere. The latest Canadian state show travel by air to the US is down 24% and 30% by car. And now both major Canadain airlines are ramping up their new destinations to the Caribbean and South America at the expense of flights to the US.

I was going to try and leave this one alone, but what the heck. First, we have a contingent who have fallen victim to illusory truth effect. That is where if an untruth shows up on the internet often enough it becomes truth in the minds of a very real segment of society. This thing has nothing to do with US Citizens, and that is evident in the article and pointed out a few times here, so those US Citizens who promote posting under a pseudonym for protection are just perpetuating the effect. Bringing in the cost of real estate is also part of the process, but that would be three more paragraphs.

It’s not your own social media that can be scrutinized. If the new
proposal is accepted, visitors would also need to supply the names,
birth dates, places of residence and birthplaces of parents, spouses,
siblings and children. Having to give your own information is one
thing. I’m however not prepared to give all this personal information
of my close relatives, just because I would like to visit the USA.

I can understand this one. There is a certain segment of the world that enjoys privilege, and as such has no idea that this requirement is common place for those not privileged who wish to visit privileged countries. I helped my S.O. apply for her Australian tourist visa last year, and those were the exact questions being asked by the Australians. I helped her with her US Visa this year and, yup, same questions again. I have filled out visa applications for employment of individuals from developing nations for about 20 years, yup, same questions. I suspect that those exact questions are asked in most all visa applications around the world. Just that individuals of certain privileged countries have never had to deal with it. Then of course the way it is written it might be seen as to imply that the government will use that information to check the social accounts of all of your relatives. I think that will soon become part of the illusory truth effect associated with the topic.

I have applied and received tourist visa for “difficult” countries like China, Russia (15 years ago) and even Turkmenistan. I’ve also applied for ETA’s for countries like the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Not once in any of these cases was I asked to give the names, birth dates, places of residence and birthplaces of my parents, siblings etc.

I suppose Illusory Truth Effect is the opposite side of the Alternative Facts coin, Mr E? I posted an article from a source that is generally perceived internationally as reliable. I could have shared the same information from other sources because the proposal is being widely covered.

I was in Canada a couple of weeks ago and the people we met during our time in Montreal were outspoken about their refusal to travel to the U.S. at this time. We also noticed a plethora of products proudly boasting their Canadian origin, a direct result of the current U.S. policies relating to tariffs.

You’re welcome to choose where to live, but reality is singular.

redheadlibrarian, no, you misunderstood. The article if fine. Thank you. Always good to be on board with this stuff.

I was replying to two specific comments on the forum.

Well, I guess I could pick on your title implying something that the article doesnt imply. The title of the article is "U.S. Plans to Scrutinize Foreign Tourists’ Social Media History". Your title says it will happen to us. I dont know where you are from so if you are English and your intended audiance is English your article title is correct.

But I didnt want to get too long winded so I skipped over that descrepency.

I could throw in another theory on the accuracy of the comments, that being they read your title and were misled by it since they did not also read the article. I guess I was wrong to not include that. I will take credit for that mistake.

And here, I didnt invent it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_truth_effect

Hopefully, after my French studies progress, I will become a French citizen in order to more effectively boycott Ryanair. However, I am now concerned that once I become fluent that when I return to tailgate in the Muni Lot for Cleveland Browns games, I will have my social media posts on the Rick Steves Forum scrutinized for content deemed offensive.

Now I am learning even if I use a high-grade pseudonym such as Punxsutawney Phil I may be unmasked!

But this may be the flawed analysis of folks suffering from the Dunning–Kruger effect, which is a cognitive bias that describes the systematic tendency of people to give overly positive assessments of their abilities.

Sincerely,

Punxsutawney Phil (formerly known as the artist Prince)

Happy travels-- or non travels whatever your case may be.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect

While the US citizens here may not be overly concerned about this possible policy, it is important to realize non US citizens make travel plans and bookings months and months ahead ie FIFA so bringing awareness that this could become policy is important. Non refundable travel bookings won’t become refundable just because this policy comes into effect.

"Stuff" firmly intact here, Frank. There's a difference between 'might' and 'will' happen.

Can you imagine the reaction from 2026 FIFA World Cup participants and their fans/families? Same for the 2028 LA Olympics. Shoot, players in some of the big golf tournaments, such as the Masters, come from abroad. But all that aside, the overall damage to the already suffering tourism market would be devastating indeed. I would only imagine that members of congress from states where tourism generates a significant amount of revenue and jobs (Hey there, Florida) would scream bloody murder if 'might' edged closer to 'will'? Same goes for governors and mayors of those states and cities.

Claire, Kate; agree it sounds like a poorly thought out idea. I hope it never moves. And honestly, I doubt it will, but a lot has happened tge past year that I guessed wrong on. Worth following and letting voices be heard.

Interesting to read the link about exiting the US and for the first time recording alien departures. I think this is a good idea, every other country except maybe Canada and the UK records alien departures.

Aside from Canadians (who are not in the visa waiver program anyway), nearly all international visitors go to the same 10 places in the US so any impact from a reduction in international tourism honestly will hardly affect anyone.

Its easy for someone with a US passport to glibly brush off this proposed new policy, since it doesnt affect them. Unless they live in a state or work for an entity thart depends on tourism for a significant portion of their income. And it comes as no surprise from anyone who lives outside the US that the US government is continuing in strengthening its isolationist stance. Those of us who live elsewhere are fully aware of the American politicians who state that they welcome tourists while at the same time making it more difficult, or in some cases impossible to enter the country. At what point does an ESTA become a visa, as far as information gathering goes? Because the aggressive intrusiveness of this invasion of personal privacy exceeds that of any other ETA that I'm aware of. Why bother with a VWP at all?

Back in early 2025 I was stridently chastised by certain forum members when I predicted that the actions of CBP towards foreign tourists was going to adversely affect their tourism business. The numbers have backed me up. I see no reason why these new restrictions shouldn't exacerbate the decline in visitors. And contrary to some here, I believe it's a matter of when, not if, these policies are put into effect.

If you don’t like something, write your representatives and make your voice heard. We seem to have passed the time of thinking “that is outrageous and therefore will never happen!”

If it ever happens, I hope the poor souls chosen…or “voluntold”… to monitor people’s accounts like cat videos…….

What next.

write your representatives

The proposal INCLUDES a 60 day public comment period. No need to contact politicians. This kind of policy announcement or rulemaking is post-legislative in nature anyway.

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-22461.pdf

Submit comments to: [email protected]

Pretty sure that the speech given by your president last night says it all regarding the government's stance. And what he wants, he gets.

...a lot has happened the past year that I guessed wrong on

No kidding, Mr. E. I am constantly, constantly astonished. And revolted, bewildered and sad.

CJean, I sure didn't mean to come off as glib . Not at all. I'm thinking that hospitality job and revenue losses across the country could likely affect us all in one way or another. Sorry if it sounded that way. I'm also personally extremely worried for our National Parks and Monuments.

👋 This thread is leaning into political commentary and will be closed. Thanks to everyone for their effort to keep this about travel as much as possible despite the obvious political crossover.

Thanks for including that inormation Toby….my comment was a more generalization of present conditions.