The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have proposed stringent new US travel security mandates, requiring extensive personal and biometric data from Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applicants from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries.These measures, echoing an executive order by Donald Trump, include five years of social media history, a decade of email addresses, phone numbers, detailed family information, and potentially a "departure selfie," sparking considerable privacy concerns.The proposal has angered travelers, particularly Australians, with politicians like
Jonno Duniam criticizing the plan, though
Anthony Albanese acknowledged the US's sovereign right to set its own entry rules.