CBP plan: 5 years of social media and selfie app for ESTA travelers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proposing to require ESTA applicants to provide five years of social‑media history and additional "high‑value" data — including phone numbers used in the past five years, IP addresses and photo metadata, email addresses used in the past ten years, and biometric information (face, fingerprint, DNA, iris) — and to capture a selfie via a mandatory mobile app. The notice says the social‑media question, previously optional, would become mandatory, cites a day‑one executive order directing maximum vetting, and opens a 60‑day public comment period.
📌 Key Facts
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) that would require additional traveler data and a mobile app selfie as part of the application process.
- The proposal would add so‑called "high value" data fields to ESTA, including phone numbers used in the last five years, IP addresses, metadata from submitted photos, email addresses used in the last 10 years, and biometric information (face, fingerprint, DNA, iris).
- Applicants would be required to use a CBP mobile app to capture a selfie as part of the ESTA process.
- CBP notes the social media question was previously optional and would not lead to adverse inference; under the proposal, five years of social media history would become mandatory.
- The notice cites a day‑one executive order directing "maximum vetting" and establishes a 60‑day public comment period on the proposed changes.
📊 Relevant Data
Between 1994 and 2020, there were 893 terrorist attacks and plots in the United States, with the vast majority perpetrated by domestic actors, while foreign terrorist organizations inspired or directed only 19 attacks.
The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States — CSIS
Europe's Muslim population has grown to an estimated 46 million in 2025, representing about 6% of the continent's total population of roughly 745 million, up from approximately 25.8 million (4.9%) in 2016, largely due to immigration from non-EU countries.
Which European Countries Will Become Muslim? Potential Tripling by 2050 — Next Big Future
In 2021, there were 15 terrorist attacks in the EU, with 2 fatalities resulting from jihadist attacks, and jihadist terrorism remains the main concern for Member States.
Terrorism in the EU: facts and figures — Consilium.europa.eu
📰 Sources (2)
- CBP’s proposal would add "high value" data fields to ESTA: phone numbers used in the last five years, IP addresses and metadata from submitted photos, email addresses used in the last 10 years, and biometric information (face, fingerprint, DNA, iris).
- Applicants would be required to use a mobile app to capture a selfie as part of the process.
- CBP notes the social media question was previously optional without adverse inference; under the proposal, five years of social media history would be mandatory.
- The notice cites a day‑one executive order directing maximum vetting, and confirms a 60‑day public comment window.