CBP Targets UK, Germany, Japan: Five Years of Social Media History Now Required at Border
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans mandate that foreign tourists from 42 visa-free nations submit up to five years of their social media history upon entry. This sweeping data requirement affects citizens from countries including the UK, Germany, France, and Japan.
Users point to MicroWave, citing a Federal Register notice regarding the Trump administration's proposal. The mandatory data collection would apply to all new entrants, regardless of their usual visa status. The explicit directives also involve screening for support for foreign 'terrorists' and 'unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence,' according to State Department instructions.
The overwhelming focus is on the massive, unprecedented invasion of digital privacy. The fault line splits between the stated national security need and the immediate civil liberty violation posed by forcing citizens to surrender their entire digital lives at the border.
Key Points
#1Mandatory data submission affects 42 visa-free countries.
The proposal targets tourists from established visa-waiver nations, specifically naming the UK, Germany, and Japan.
#2The requirement mandates five years of social media data.
This data submission is proposed to be mandatory for all new entrants, not just those requiring a standard visa.
#3Scrutiny expands beyond general threats.
The State Department instructions specifically direct screening for 'unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence,' creating a narrow focus on certain ideologies.
#4The initial notice cited the Trump administration.
MicroWave repeatedly cites the context of the Trump administration issuing the requirement via the Federal Register.
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