SIIA and Coalition Partners Urge CBP to Reconsider ESTA Social Media Data Proposal

SIIA joined leading technology trade associations in submitting formal comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding proposed revisions to the Arrival and Departure Record (Form I-94) and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). While supporting CBP's national security mission, the coalition raises significant concerns about the proposal's expansion of data collection-particularly the requirement to provide five years of social media history-and the potential negative impacts on business travel, privacy, and international reciprocity.

The letter outlines risks to innovation cycles, global collaboration, and U.S. economic competitiveness if ESTA becomes more burdensome or unpredictable. It also calls for greater clarity around data retention, privacy safeguards, and implementation timelines. The coalition urges CBP to remove the social media requirement, conduct a detailed privacy assessment, and adopt a phased, transparent implementation process that balances security objectives with economic growth and civil liberties.