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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the United States to hand over personal social media profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit information about social media accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Until now, providing this data was voluntary.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech 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 climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal stems from an executive order issued by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Government Response and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the country," the official stated. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the public safe."

The representative further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the recent attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."