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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the US to hand over personal social media account information has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit details about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Government Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals using the ESTA program."