Proposed US immigration changes

[reluctantbrit]

In case you still plan to visit the US, if this will be reality there is no way I am going near any US border.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/tourists-social-media-trump

I'm probably being obtuse but what data does a data request from that website show?

.

I'm confused from the messages and the website what information we'd receive from the data request? The discussion on the ESTA changes?

Not a big deal really.

You don’t thing there is anything wrong in having to give your internet details and information about your family in order to enter a country purported to be built on freedom?

Americans who criticise Starmer can enter the UK. Brits who criticise Trump probably can’t enter the US. Who has the free speech problem.

Something that hasn't (IMO) been emphasised enough on this thread is that under the new proposal, it won't just be the ESTA applicant's details they ask for.

You will have to provide e-mail addresses, social media handles, and phone numbers for:

• You
• Your spouse (even if they are not travelling to the US)
• Your children (even if they are not travelling to the US)
• Your parents (even if they are not travelling to the US)

Maybe you are totally apolitical, but your Mum reposted Janey Godley holding that "Trump is a cunt" placard last year? No USA holiday for you, sorry! Get to the airport and they scroll through your e-mails and find that you made a typo when declaring your brother's Gmail address? Computer says no!

You can try saying that you have no social media. But they will run your photo through reverse image search. Oh look, there's someone with your name and your likeness posting on Facebook. Doesn't matter what about. You lied on your ESTA form, Ma'am. Entry denied. Go and spend a week in a detention centre while we process your deportation.

Of course, accurate enforcement of this will be impossible. But they are not interested in accurate enforcement. If a bunch of people get denied travel because of mistaken identity, that's no problem for the current US regime. They'll just trawl all your info with AI, put 2 and 2 together to get some number between minus 20 and a million, and you either will or won't get an ESTA. Probably best to apply before you book the nonrefundable flight tickets and Disney World hotels.

You will be doing it voluntarily, you want to go so you are happy to supply the data when you apply for an ESTA and what ever they will do with it.

The checks are done before you will set a foot in the airport.

Well they would be waiting a long time because I have no idea what it is or how to find out 🤣🤣

If it goes ahead lots of people will be learning quickly about IP addresses and internet access in order to complete their ESTA.

I wonder how all that squares with GDPR requirements ?

I deleted Facebook many years ago, more than 5, because I didn't really use it much, I think that deletes everything after 30 days so couldn't people just delete accounts before applying.

The USA is not in the EU, so not relevant.

It may be relevant if the people whose personal details you pass over don't consent.

The GDPR rules on handling data about identifiable living people do not apply to individuals acting in a personal capacity, only to organisations and sole traders.

I'll leave it to lawyers. However you are required to register your home CCTV (which is being used in a personal capacity) in the UK, so I suspect there are going to be some wrinkles.

When they say "spouse", I'd be curious what their view on ex's might be. I mean you may think that divorce means you don't have to hand over your ex's details, but they may think differently. Especially if they are the parent of the children whose details you need to supply.

I have fuck all intention of returning to the US in this life (had my fill). So these are issues I am wondering about from idle speculation as a dogless fighter.

There are specific rules that apply to anyone who captures video recordings of public spaces, including homeowners.

Unless the Data Use and Access Act 2025 has changed this, you don't have to register, but you do have to inform passersby that you are filming them and you have to give them a means to object, ask for deletion, etc.

You don't have to inform anyone you film on purely your own property.

ESTA warning:

I've just posted this on another thread - we had our Esta approved over a month before travel, then 3 days before we flew out to USA we got an email to say 'Esta has been updated please check your Esta online'
My husband's had been revoked. It was too late to get a visa appointment (average 86 days) so we lost our holiday.

I tried the contact number in Washington, we were told the Esta can be revoked ANYTIME during the 2 years as they are 'always investigating'. They would not confirm why it was revoked.

We had no problem travelling to USA a couple of years ago, our previous ESTAS were fine.

We don't have the usual social media (oldies) so don't spout about politics online.
The only thing we can come up with is that DH has contacts on his LinkedIn account from a 'banned country'. So I assume they do a search under our names with key words or countries.
Now DH hasn't messaged or contacted these old colleagues and rarely used LinkedIn but obviously we have now de-activated his account.

We won't be going to USA again. He will be on the 'have you ever had an ESTA revoked' list. It's not worth the hassle.

Also to add original ESTA approved beginning of November, then revoked 5th December.
Just glad I spotted the email so we didn't travel all that way then be sent back home by border patrol.

That's alarming @DemonsRocks , I thought once you got it that was it. Are you getting anything back from insurance or is it excluded

Very sorry to hear this. At least it will shut the patronising idiots up for a day or two.

We didn't do a package so managed to cancel our hotel before full payment was due the following day. Also family member booked the flights so was able to get some money back for us. (Didn't claim on insurance)

When we got the email everyone in work was saying oh that must be a scam, but you literally logged back onto the legit ESTA site with your long number and it was updated 'Esta revoked'.

I just assumed once you were approved that was it for 2 years, but nope that's not the case.

Mentioning insurance does raise the question as to whether insurance would cover any losses from an ETSA revision like this.

Somehow I suspect it wouldn't. So quite a few people could lose a lot.

And that's before you consider that if they can revoke/revise the ETSA before you travel, they could just as easily do ti when you are in country. And at that point being in the USA illegally (because your ETSA is no longer valid) is a criminal offence that attracts the ICE squads.

In the words of a famous American ...

“You've got to ask yourself one question; 'Do I feel lucky?'

They also require any telephone numbers used by visitors over the same period, and any email addresses used in the last decade, as well as face, fingerprint, DNA and iris biometrics. They would also ask for the names, addresses, birthdates and birthplaces of family members, including children.

It is ridiculous.

Yes @SerendipityJane exactly! There's no way insurance are going to pay out.

This was a much planned holiday booked when I was in cancer treatment, something to look forward to. As it was we ended up getting a last minute week in the Canaries which I was grateful for.

It was just opening that email 3 days before and my stomach totally dropped. I'll never book again, it's not worth the stress.