Visitors from a range of nations including the UK may soon have to disclose their social media activity from the past five years before being allowed into the United States, according to a newly released proposal from U.S. authorities.

Currently, British travellers are among those who can enter the US for up to 90 days through the visa-free entry programme, known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), for around £30. While the current ESTA process requires Brits to provide an email address, home address, phone number, and may ask but not require you to list your social media accounts, it is a comparatively simple application process. Provided a successful ESTA application has been completed, Britons and nationals from dozens of other countries, such as France, Australia and Japan, have been able to travel in and out of the US during the granted 2-year period.  

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Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has pushed for stricter border controls across the board, claiming that tighter security measures are essential for the country's national security. The proposal itself cites an executive order from Trump, titled "Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats".

The social-media disclosure rule under consideration by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would affect all incoming visitors, regardless of whether they travel under a visa or a visa-free programme. A notice published in the U.S. federal register on Tuesday states that international travellers would be expected “to provide their social media from the last 5 years."

US border chiefs want to tighten ESTA rules further by making applicants send in a selfie before they even get on a plane. Officials are also pushing to collect more personal data beyond a travellers face and fingerprints, but now even including DNA and iris scans, all as part of the online form. As it stands US authorities only take your photo and fingerprints when you actually land in America. The plan is now open for public consultation for the next 60 days.

A spokesperson for CBP stated: "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States…This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe."

Since returning to office, Trump had face several public disputations about his handling of free speech. There have been several reports of travellers previously being denied entry into the US over social media posts and messages found on their personal devices. For example, an unnamed French researcher was on his way to a conference near Houston was subjected to a random check where messages "that reflect hatred toward Trump and can be described as terrorism" were found on his phone.

Despite Trump vowing to "restore freedom of speech" and end "federal censorship" during his campaign, several of his recent actions and policies have been called out for curtailing free speech. One such critic, Sophia Cope of the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation condemned the proposal, telling the New York Times that it risked  "[exacerbating] civil liberties harms". Other critics fear the plan could lead to longer waiting times for ESTA’s or negatively impact tourism. 

When asked whether the proposal could lead to a steep decline in tourism to the US, Trump said he was not concerned. 

"No. We're doing so well…We just want people to come over here, and safe. We want safety. We want security… We want to make sure we're not letting the wrong people come enter our country."