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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the US to disclose their social media account information has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Applicants

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to submit details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this information was optional.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an executive order signed by former President Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Statement and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the official stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the public safe."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather further data from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."