Reference News Network, December 11 report. According to the website of the US Consumer News and Business Channel on December 10, as President Trump continues to increase travel restrictions on foreign tourists, the United States is planning to implement social media checks for some visitors.

A notice published by the US Customs and Border Protection on December 10 shows that tourists from countries including the UK, Australia, France, and Japan will be required to provide their social media records from the past five years when applying for a visa to the US. The proposal is currently in a 60-day public comment period and has not been finalized, and may be subject to changes.

Tourists from countries covered by the US Visa Waiver Program can apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization System, and after paying $40, they can stay in the US for up to 90 days. Now, social media checks will become a "mandatory data item" when applying for the Electronic Travel Authorization System.

The border management authorities said that it will also collect "multiple high-value data fields," including email addresses from the past 10 years, phone numbers from the past five years, and the names and details of family members.

In addition to the social media check, applicants are expected to upload a "selfie." The US Customs and Border Protection said that this will improve the screening process and more accurately confirm whether the person who obtained the travel authorization through the relevant documents is the actual applicant.

The report said that the plan is an escalation of a series of measures implemented by Trump in recent months to restrict foreign tourists. Previously, an Afghan man was charged with shooting two National Guard members near the White House.

Trump at the time said he would tighten immigration rules, including a "permanent" suspension of all immigration from "third-world countries," and accused his predecessor Biden of accepting "millions."

(Translation by Tu Qi)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7582486624908263945/

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