Senators urge Trump to drop social media screening for travelers
Senators urge Trump to drop social media screening for travelers
Publish Date: 2026-02-16 12:57:00
Source Domain: www.masslive.com
Calling it a “sweeping invasion of privacy,” U.S. Sen. Ed Markey has called on the Trump administration to drop its plan to require applicants for visa-free travel to the U.S. to submit five years’ worth of their social media history.
If it’s allowed to go forward, the Republican White House’s vetting regime would amount to an “unacceptable expansion” of data collection and monitoring by the federal government, Markey, D-Mass., and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., argued in a Feb. 13 letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott.
A similar policy for traveling Americans would be an “outrage,” the two lawmakers wrote.
“Social media platforms are avenues for people to share all aspects of their lives, often including sensitive information meant only for trusted circles. By requiring travelers to disclose their personal social media information, CBP will force people who simply want to visit family in the United States, conduct business with U.S. companies, or attend events such as the upcoming World Cup to submit to sweeping digital surveillance,” they wrote.
“No doubt many Americans would be outraged if countries such as Great Britain, France, or Australia imposed a similar policy on American tourists,” Markey and Wyden continued.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to issue any public comment. The agency has said that its proposal could take effect as soon as this month, The Independent reported.
The Republican White House has faced pushback across the spectrum on its plan, with civil libertarians and business trade groups aligning against it.
The U.S. Travel Association said it is “deeply concerned” by the proposal, which could have a “chilling effect on travel to the United States.”
“Without more detail from CBP, there are legitimate questions from travelers about what information they might need to provide, and from security experts as to whether this policy would meaningfully increase America’s…
