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A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup supporters traveling to the US to disclose their social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Applicants

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide details about social media accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director 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 cross a border."

He added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all aliens wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those coming to the country," the spokesperson said. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the public safe."

The representative further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the recent attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."