PI voices concern over US border proposals demanding digital history and DNA

The Trump Administration has proposed a controversial policy requiring all visitors to the United States to submit extensive personal data, including their digital history and DNA, as a condition for entry. Announced on 10 December 2025, the policy would mandate the use of a new mobile app developed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which visitors would use to provide five years of social media activity, ten years of email addresses, and biometric data, such as fingerprints and DNA.

If enacted after a 60-day consultation, the policy would affect approximately 14 million annual travellers exempt from visa requirements, with the processing expected to take around 22 minutes per individual. Privacy International (PI) have raised concerns about the broad scope of data collection, questioning the rationale behind the demand for decades' worth of email history and social media details, arguing that it could lead to disproportionate surveillance and the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse and assess individuals' backgrounds and associations in order to develop a profile of what type of person they are.

PI argues that the move reflects a growing trend in border surveillance that many countries are adopting, including European nations. PI stresses the need for urgent action to protect universal human rights and limit governmental overreach, arguing that fundamental protections must be enforced for all individuals, especially at borders.

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