Speaking at IPW 2026, executive director at CBP’s office of field operations, Matt Davies, proposed a cascading approach, with the level of social media information required dependent on the answers provided in the application process.
“It’s not focused on everyone,” Davies reassured.
“Any ESTA requirements related to social media won’t happen before the World Cup starts in Jun, and aren’t likely to happen until late this year at the soonest,” he added.
“The numbers are such that if you’re a traveller crossing the border into the US, you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning once in your lifetime than of having your phone searched by CBP.”
The backtrack comes after CBP received more than 2,000 public submissions from stakeholders in the United States and overseas opposing the rule change, which some argued would hamper free speech.
Additionally, the World Travel & Tourism Council had warned that, if the proposal came into effect, the country would lose up to US$15.7 billion in visitor spend.
The Trump Administration initially floated the social media entry rule in December 2025, after a challenging period for the US, which was exacerbated by a dramatic cut to Brand USA’s annual budget and the doubling of the ESTA fee to US$40.
