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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans traveling to the United States to disclose their online profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

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

"These proposed measures are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director 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, "This policy introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The plan follows an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Government Response and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in the capital. The measure is in line with the earlier directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect additional information from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."