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

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Applicants

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide details about social media 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 of privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "The measure introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in January that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency offered context on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the country," the official said. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the public safe."

The spokesperson added, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."