US plans to check vistors social media posts dubbed “outrageous”

Politicians from both government and opposition parties have criticised new rules for US-bound tourists, which require them to hand over their social media posts.

Customs and Border Protection, who handle America’s immigration policy, have put forward a new rule which would compel all visitors to America – be they immigrants or tourists – to hand over their social media from the last five years.

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews said the move was “outrageous.”

Andrews, who said that Donald Trump is attempting a “regime change” in Europe by influencing conservative political parties and undermining European cohesion, said that the move would have a severe impact on tourists and businesses alike.

Andrews warned that should the law be enacted, it would have a “serious consequence” for Irish businesses, and not even the world’s strictest authoritarian employs such a policy.

“US companies directly employ 245,000 people in Ireland, as the gateway to Europe for US companies. That relationship, over decades, relies on the free travel of businesspeople between the two countries”

The American economy, already struggling to attract tourists during the second Trump term, faces the potential loss of millions of football fans travelling to the World Cup next summer.

Travel research firm Tourism Economics have noted that international visits to the U.S. will drop by 8.2% for 2025, owing to America’s worsening international image.

 “The criteria, as cited on the US Federal Register, are so wide-ranging that tourist or business visitors could be stopped based simply on LinkedIn, Instagram or TikTok posts critical of America,” Andrews noted.

 Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson said, “it’s hard to understand what the US government is hoping to achieve from this directive.”

“This represents serious overreach by Washington and is a direct attack on privacy, free speech and freedom of expression – all values that the US is supposed to hold dear.”

Senator Stephenson said, “the US has long been considered a trusted friend and ally of Ireland, but this new requirement would represent a setback for relations between our two countries.

“The Irish government must strongly push back against this erosion of intellectual and personal freedom. The Minister for Foreign Affairs needs to use every possible diplomatic channel with Washington to prevent this deeply problematic proposal from going ahead,” she said.