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A newly proposed requirement for World Cup supporters traveling to the US to hand over personal online profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, tourists from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to provide information about social media accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this information was voluntary.

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."

Government Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson said. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line 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 ESTA program."