United States of America
United States of AmericaWhat this score means
- Extreme75 to 100
- Severe and systematic. Device search, interception and detention over online activity are documented rather than theoretical. Reconsider what you carry and what you say.
- High50 to 74
- Substantial and consistently evidenced measures. Device inspection, monitored networks or restricted services should be expected rather than treated as unlikely.
- Caution25 to 49
- Some risk, and manageable with precautions. Measures are evidenced but are narrow, inconsistently applied, or the picture is mixed.
- Low0 to 24
- Ordinary precautions. No systematic device search, network restriction or prosecution of visitors for online speech is evidenced.
Government travel advice is written for one citizenry, so the same country carries a different assessment depending on your passport. Change it in the header.
Showing the baseline, which weights every issuer equally. No government in our corpus publishes travel advice written for you, so this is not addressed to you specifically.
For United Kingdom nationals: 42 (caution). This leans on advice written for British nationals, and weights other issuers lower.Adjusted by 2 percent for the relationship between United Kingdom and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires an electronic travel authorisation before travel. Summarised across 1 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Europe nationals: 42 (caution). This leans on advice written for German nationals, and weights other issuers lower.Adjusted by 2 percent for the relationship between Europe and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires an electronic travel authorisation before travel. Summarised across 43 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For United States nationals: 42 (caution). This leans on advice written for US nationals, and weights other issuers lower.
For Canada nationals: 42 (caution). This leans on advice written for Canadian nationals, and weights other issuers lower.
For Latin America and the Caribbean nationals: 44 (caution). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Latin America and the Caribbean, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 33 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Africa nationals: 44 (caution). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Africa, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Africa and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 54 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Middle East nationals: 44 (caution). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Middle East, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Middle East and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 18 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For South Asia nationals: 44 (caution). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for South Asia, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between South Asia and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 14 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For East and South East Asia nationals: 44 (caution). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for East and South East Asia, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between East and South East Asia and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 19 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Oceania nationals: 44 (caution). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Oceania, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Oceania and this destination.For most passports in this region, United States of America requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 14 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
Dimensions
Each dimension is scored independently, because the traveller who cares about legal exposure for what they have posted is often not the one carrying client data. Higher means more risk.
Border device risk
How likely is my device to be searched, imaged, or seized at the border, and can I be compelled to unlock it?
moderate confidence6 independent sources
Why this score (10 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored USA 3 of 4 on due process in civil and criminal matters.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
FCDO advice for USA: no advisory against travel in force.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-18 · written for GBR nationals
United States: Take normal security precautions
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-15 · written for CAN nationals
United States of America (USA): No travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-10-12 · written for DEU nationals
All persons, baggage, and merchandise arriving in the Customs territory of the United States from places outside thereof are liable to inspection and search by a Customs officer.
US National Archives and Records Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations · observed 2026-01-01
U.S. border agents are entitled to search your electronic devices, such as your phones, computers or tablets, when you are entering the United States.
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-16 · written for CAN nationals · extracted by language model
In June 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents at the Los Angeles International Airport denied entry to Australian writer Alistair Kitchen after border officials searched his phone and questioned him about his views on the Israel-Gaza war.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-05-07 · extracted by language model
Allistair Kitchen, an Australian writer who has reported on Substack, was denied entry into the United States after border officials at the Los Angeles International Airport searched his phone and questioned him about his views on the Israel-Gaza war.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-03-19 · extracted by language model
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) has the authority to search electronic devices without a warrant or probable cause.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-04-17 · extracted by language model
Reports of device searches and additional scrutiny at the U.S. border are also on the rise.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-04-17 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Network threat
How hostile is the network environment to a foreign visitor, from state actors and criminals alike?
good confidence6 independent sources
Why this score (10 sources)
ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, Technical pillar: 20.00 of 20.
International Telecommunication Union, Global Cybersecurity Index · observed 2024-12-31
Freedom House scored United States 20 of 25 on obstacles to access in Freedom on the Net, a category covering state control over internet infrastructure and gateways, regulatory and ownership control over service providers, and the independence of the regulator.
Freedom House, Freedom on the Net, obstacles to access · observed 2025-01-01
According to prosecutors, Van Yeboah was part of a criminal organisation primarily based in Ghana that carried out romance scams and business email compromise operations against individuals and businesses across the United States.
MyJoyOnline, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-03-13 · extracted by language model
According to prosecutors, the fraud network was largely operated from Ghana and relied on fabricated romantic relationships to lure victims into transferring money.
MyJoyOnline, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-03-07 · extracted by language model
Taken together, the cyberdefense agency is being hobbled at a time when the need for its services has never been greater , from the ongoing China-led Salt Typhoon attack on U.S. telecommunications networks to ransomware, data breaches and threats to infrastructure.
The Conversation, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-10-07 · extracted by language model
銀行、配送業者、ネット通販サイトなどを装い、偽のウェブサイトへ誘導してクレジットカード情報や個人情報を盗み取るフィッシング詐欺が非常に巧妙化しています。
Our translation: Phishing scams have become extremely sophisticated, impersonating banks, delivery companies, online shopping sites and the like, directing people to fake websites and stealing credit card information and personal information.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas travel safety information · observed 2026-10-16 · written for JPN nationals · extracted by language model
As alleged in the Indictment: Boateng, Ahmed, Van Yeboah, and Asare were high-ranking members of a criminal organization based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the U.S.
MyJoyOnline, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-08-08 · extracted by language model
A Ghanaian national has been sentenced to 85 months in a United States federal prison for his role in an international criminal organisation that stole more than $100 million from victims through romance scams and business email compromises.
MyJoyOnline, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-07-29 · extracted by language model
US city declares state of emergency after cyberattack cripples IT systems, 911 operations hit | Indiablooms
The GDELT Project, GDELT Global Knowledge Graph 2.1 · observed 2026-08-10 · extracted by language model
Cyberattack disrupts California community's emergency services – Macomb Daily
The GDELT Project, GDELT Global Knowledge Graph 2.1 · observed 2026-08-10 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Speech and legal exposure
What legal risk attaches to what I have said online, or say while I am there?
good confidence9 independent sources
Why this score (13 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored USA 3 of 4 on freedom to express personal views on sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
Freedom House 2026 scored USA 3 of 4 on free and independent media.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 3.70 of 4 on how routinely the government censors political content on social media, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 2.69 of 4 on how often people are arrested for political content they posted online, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
FCDO advice for USA: no advisory against travel in force.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-18 · written for GBR nationals
United States: Take normal security precautions
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-15 · written for CAN nationals
United States of America (USA): No travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-10-12 · written for DEU nationals
On 29th January 2026, the Justice Department charged nine people, including independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, with conspiracy to interfere with religious freedom under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2026-04-29 · extracted by language model
While Trump says he wants to curb illegal immigration, his administration has made legal immigration more difficult, for example, by imposing new and expensive fees for applicants of certain visas and by enforcing social media vetting for applicants and immigrants already in the country.
The National (Papua New Guinea), via a site scoped search · observed 2026-08-04 · extracted by language model
In June 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents at the Los Angeles International Airport denied entry to Australian writer Alistair Kitchen after border officials searched his phone and questioned him about his views on the Israel-Gaza war.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-05-07 · extracted by language model
Allistair Kitchen, an Australian writer who has reported on Substack, was denied entry into the United States after border officials at the Los Angeles International Airport searched his phone and questioned him about his views on the Israel-Gaza war.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-03-19 · extracted by language model
The court found that the legal challenge raised serious questions as to whether the detention may have constituted retaliation for protected speech under the First Amendment, and indicated that further protective measures could become necessary if detention continued.
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2026-01-26 · extracted by language model
Four activists were arrested for civil disobedience following a protest outside Fiola Mare , a restaurant in Georgetown, Washington, DC.
Rappler, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-08-04 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- Electronic Frontier Foundation feed, observed 1997-07-01: aged out after 29 years.
Surveillance and interception
How comprehensively are communications intercepted, retained, and monitored, and is commercial spyware in use?
good confidence7 independent sources
Why this score (8 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored USA 3 of 4 on freedom to express personal views on sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 2.30 of 4 on how comprehensively the government monitors social media and private online communication, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 3.23 of 4 on how far privacy protection law shields communications from government access, where higher is freer. This measures what privacy law permits rather than what monitoring is practised, so it is read here as a constraint on interception rather than a measurement of it.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025 scored USA 0.72 of 1 on whether freedom from arbitrary interference with privacy is effectively guaranteed, a measure built from expert assessments of warrantless interception of communications.
World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index, sub-factor 4.6 · observed 2025-01-01
Most ports of entry to the United States use facial recognition technology to verify your identity when entering or departing the country.
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-16 · written for CAN nationals · extracted by language model
These incidents occur against the backdrop of expanded use of surveillance technologies by federal authorities, including biometric identification tools, licence plate readers and facial recognition systems.
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2026-04-29 · extracted by language model
According to an official notice from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Trump administration is moving forward with a proposal that would require visa-exempt foreign travelers to submit their social-media histories from the past five years before being allowed to enter U.S. territory.
Colombia One, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-12-11 · extracted by language model
The new case expands that ruling by confirming that even shorter-term surveillance of location data can constitute a search because it can still reveal “private matters,” including “a wealth of detail about a person’s familial, political, professional, religious, and sexual associations.”
Multiple, via Google News, Google News search results · observed 2026-06-29 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- Colombia One, via a site scoped search, observed 2024-09-23: aged out after 2 years.
Data jurisdiction
What happens to corporate or client data I carry into the jurisdiction?
moderate confidence1 independent source
Why this score (1 source)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 3.23 of 4 on how far privacy protection law shields communications from government access, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- MyJoyOnline, via a site scoped search, observed 2020-07-01: aged out after 6 years.
Encryption and VPN legality
Are VPNs and strong encryption lawful, and can I be required to install an application or hand over keys?
moderate confidence3 independent sources
Why this score (3 sources)
Minimal restrictions. In the United States, the law imposes controls on the export of certain forms of encryption. There is no legislative power which can be used to require telecommunication or online service providers to facilitate the decryption of encrypted communications. However, all telecommunications carriers are required to ensure that their equipment, facilities or services that provide a customer or subscriber with the ability to originate, terminate or direct communications have certain capabilities which includes interception of communications and delivering intercepted communications to the government
Global Partners Digital, World Map of Encryption Laws and Policies · observed 2019-06-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 3.86 of 4 on whether the government regulates the internet in a way consistent with international human rights standards, where higher is freer. This does not establish whether encryption or VPN use is lawful. It measures internet regulation in general, and is used as indirect evidence because the only survey that reads encryption law directly was published in 2019.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
OONI confirmed blocking on 736 of 991,717 measurements of anonymity and censorship circumvention tools in USA over the 90 days to 2026-10-16, a confirmed blocking rate of 0.07 percent, with 27,483 further results inconclusive.
Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data · observed 2026-10-16
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Connectivity continuity
How likely am I to lose access to the internet, or to the specific tools I depend on?
good confidence9 independent sources
Why this score (10 sources)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 3.82 of 4 on how often the government shuts down domestic access to the internet, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored USA 3.62 of 4 on how routinely the government filters internet content in practice, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
OONI recorded 141 confirmed and 121,756 anomalous results across 6,563,860 web connectivity measurements in USA over the 30 days to 2026-10-16, a confirmed blocking rate of 0.00 percent.
Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data · observed 2026-10-16
FCDO advice for USA: no advisory against travel in force.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-18 · written for GBR nationals
United States: Take normal security precautions
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-15 · written for CAN nationals
United States of America (USA): No travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-10-12 · written for DEU nationals
TikTok US Joint Venture, which took over ownership of the outlet on 22nd January 2026 and consists of American investors, including Larry Ellison, a close connection of President Trump, expressed that the app was not operating correctly due to a data centre outage and was being addressed.
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2026-04-29 · extracted by language model
On that day, TikTok effectively went dark in the US—until the new administration granted a brief extension for negotiations on the platform’s ownership restructuring.
Premium Times feed · observed 2025-04-25 · extracted by language model
TikTok and its owner ByteDance are fighting to keep the popular app online in the United States after Congress voted in April to ban it unless ByteDance sells it by January 19.
Rappler, via a site scoped search · observed 2024-12-28 · extracted by language model
The changes meant users of the free tier API would be limited to 500 posts per month – or roughly 15 per day.
The Conversation, via a site scoped search · observed 2024-12-04 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- Barbados Today, via a site scoped search, observed 2024-04-24: aged out after 2 years.
Trend
The overall score is up 10.8 points over 61 days, from 31.6 to 42.4. Most movement is the event overlay decaying rather than anything happening: a news signal loses half its weight every three weeks, so a score drifts back toward its structural baseline on its own. A step that holds is the one worth reading.
Check this yourself
These are not inputs to the score for United States of America. They are where to look if you want to test what is above against something we did not use.
- OONI ExplorerMeasured tests of website and app blocking, updated continuously by volunteers running probes in country. Not used in our scores: its licence forbids commercial use.
- IODA outage recordThe full outage history behind any continuity events shown above, including the measurement methods that detected them.
- FCDO travel adviceThe UK government view, written for UK nationals.
- US State Department travel advisoriesThe US government view, written for US nationals.
Sources
This assessment draws on 22 sources: Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise; CIVICUS Monitor country updates; Colombia One, via a site scoped search; Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search; Freedom House, Freedom in the World; Freedom House, Freedom on the Net, obstacles to access; Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories; Global Partners Digital, World Map of Encryption Laws and Policies; International Telecommunication Union, Global Cybersecurity Index; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas travel safety information; Multiple, via Google News, Google News search results; MyJoyOnline, via a site scoped search; Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data; Premium Times feed; Rappler, via a site scoped search; The Conversation, via a site scoped search; The GDELT Project, GDELT Global Knowledge Graph 2.1; The National (Papua New Guinea), via a site scoped search; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice; US National Archives and Records Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project; World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index, sub-factor 4.6. Every contributing claim is quoted with its origin and date above. Model version 0.12.0, computed 2026-10-16.
If something here is wrong, say so. Corrections are handled in public, and we correct because the evidence is wrong, not because someone objects.