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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the US to hand over personal social media account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "The measure creates a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree possible."

Government Statement and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those traveling to the country," the official said. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the public secure."

The representative further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the earlier Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."