The United States government is reportedly preparing to introduce a new immigration policy requiring all foreign visitors to provide five years’ worth of social media data as part of their visa or entry screening process. The move is intended to strengthen security vetting and counter extremist threats, but critics argue it represents a severe privacy intrusion.
Under the proposed rules, applicants would need to submit usernames or handles used on major platforms—including Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok—covering a five-year period. Officials say the policy will help identify individuals associated with extremist groups, online hate networks, or criminal activity.
Civil rights organizations, however, warn that the measure could discourage travel, limit academic and cultural exchange, and place visitors under disproportionate surveillance. They argue that social media posts can easily be misinterpreted out of context, leading to wrongful denials or profiling.
Tech industry experts also express concerns about data security, questioning how the information will be stored, who will have access, and whether foreign users’ privacy will be adequately protected.
Despite the controversy, US authorities maintain that enhanced screening is necessary given evolving digital threats. If implemented, the policy would mark one of the broadest social media monitoring requirements ever introduced by a major nation.
