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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans journeying to the US to disclose personal social media profile details has been branded "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

Under the plan, tourists from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide details about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

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

Official Statement and Justification

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those coming to the country," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."