US Mandates Tourists from Allied Countries Provide Social Media Records and Biometric Data

New regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its component agency, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will require travelers from 42 visa-exempt countriesto provide records of social media activities from the past five years.

Visitors would also be required to submit all phone numbers used in the same period, all email addresses used in the past decade, and biometric information such as facial recognition, fingerprints, DNA, and iris scans. 

This requirement extends to all immediate family members, including children. Long-term U.S. allies like the UK, France, Australia, Germany, and Japan are not exempt.

What Must Be Submitted at U.S. Customs?

CBP clarified that the changes in regulation follow an executive order by President Trump on his first day of office, imposing restrictions to ensure visitors do not harbor hostility toward U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.

CBP claims the authority to search the electronic devices of anyone entering the U.S. This policy will apply to tourists as well as foreign individuals seeking to live or work in the U.S. 

Travelers can refuse, but may then be denied entry.   （Related： Risks and Opportunities: Ukraine Between the US, China and Russia in 2026 ｜ Latest ）

In August 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services also noted that it would begin to consider 'anti-American' views in evaluating applications to reside in the U.S., including social media expressions, indicating increased ideological scrutiny on immigrants and professionals.

Last week, the White House directed consular officials to deny visas to individuals who have worked for fact-checking or content moderation organizations, accusing them of conspiring to censor speech protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Furthermore, foreign students will be required to unlock their social media profiles for inspection, with refusals being considered as an intent to conceal. Some foreign students have already faced detention for expressing pro-Palestinian views online. 

The American Institute in Taiwan announced on social media that, from December 15, Taiwanese applicants for work, cultural exchange, and family visit visas must set their social media account privacy to 'public' for necessary scrutiny to verify their identity and eligibility to enter the U.S. as per American law.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to an immediate request for comment on the announcement. 

Impact on U.S. Tourism

Human rights organizations have warned that if such practices continue, U.S. immigration enforcement agencies could become a tool for an increasingly authoritarian government. 

CBP statistics show that about 47,000 out of 420 million travelers passing through the U.S. in 2024  had their devices searched, with experts predicting a significant increase under Trump's new policies. 

Stringent anti-immigration policies have already causedtourism to the U.S. to slump, according to reports byThe Guardian. ​California's tourism board estimates a 9% drop in foreign visitors this year, with cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas showing sharp decreases.  （Related： Risks and Opportunities: Ukraine Between the US, China and Russia in 2026 ｜ Latest ）

The timing of these policies is also expected to lower visitors to the 2026 World Cup soccer event, of which the U.S. is one of the hosts. The event was initially expected to draw in five million fans and millions more tourists.