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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans journeying to the United States to hand over personal social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, providing this data was voluntary.

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

He continued, "The measure creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this subject for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson said. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."