Washington: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Tuesday proposed a rule that would require travelers from Britain, France, Germany, and South Korea to submit up to five years of their social media history under the US visa waiver program. The proposal targets visitors who are allowed to enter the US for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they secure electronic travel authorization.

According to Anadolu Agency, CBP stated in a filing that it plans to seek extensive personal information from applicants. This includes social media accounts, email addresses from the past decade, and details about their family members, such as names, birth dates, birthplaces, and places of residence.

CBP announced it will open a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. The agency emphasized that this plan follows earlier government steps requiring social media checks for certain visa categories, including H-1B skilled workers and student and scholar visa applicants.