On the final day of the public-comment window, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) joined a coalition of technology and travel associations in a letter urging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to “reconsider” its proposal to collect five years of social-media history from all Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applicants. The groups warn that the expanded data grab — which would also mandate historical phone numbers, email addresses and, eventually, biometric selfies, DNA and iris scans — risks chilling business travel and damaging U.S. competitiveness.(siia.net)
Coalition members argue that CBP has not shown a clear security benefit proportional to the privacy and reciprocity costs. They cite potential retaliation from European regulators, who may impose similar requirements on U.S. travellers, and point to World Tourism & Travel Council research projecting a $15.7 billion hit to inbound visitor spending if the policy proceeds.(siia.net)
![Tech and Travel Groups Tell CBP to Scrap Mandatory Social-Media Disclosure for ESTA]()
For travelers and corporate mobility teams seeking clarity amid these shifting requirements, VisaHQ offers an up-to-date ESTA and U.S. visa resource center, including real-time alerts and document-preparation services. Their online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) can help applicants understand what information is currently mandatory, submit forms efficiently, and coordinate group travel, minimizing the administrative drag highlighted above.
The letter asks CBP to conduct a detailed privacy impact assessment, clarify retention limits, and pilot any new data fields on a voluntary basis before mandating them. It also calls for phased roll-out timelines so airlines and travel-management companies can update reservation systems and APIs used to transmit ESTA data.
While the proposal is not yet final, mobility managers should track developments: if implemented, the extra fields could add minutes per traveller to corporate booking flows and trigger new compliance checks for employee social-media use. Companies may need to update travel-privacy notices and advise staff on how public posts could be interpreted by border officials.(siia.net)
Coalition members argue that CBP has not shown a clear security benefit proportional to the privacy and reciprocity costs. They cite potential retaliation from European regulators, who may impose similar requirements on U.S. travellers, and point to World Tourism & Travel Council research projecting a $15.7 billion hit to inbound visitor spending if the policy proceeds.(siia.net)
For travelers and corporate mobility teams seeking clarity amid these shifting requirements, VisaHQ offers an up-to-date ESTA and U.S. visa resource center, including real-time alerts and document-preparation services. Their online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) can help applicants understand what information is currently mandatory, submit forms efficiently, and coordinate group travel, minimizing the administrative drag highlighted above.
The letter asks CBP to conduct a detailed privacy impact assessment, clarify retention limits, and pilot any new data fields on a voluntary basis before mandating them. It also calls for phased roll-out timelines so airlines and travel-management companies can update reservation systems and APIs used to transmit ESTA data.
While the proposal is not yet final, mobility managers should track developments: if implemented, the extra fields could add minutes per traveller to corporate booking flows and trigger new compliance checks for employee social-media use. Companies may need to update travel-privacy notices and advise staff on how public posts could be interpreted by border officials.(siia.net)
