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

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Applicants

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit information about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this data was optional.

"These proposed measures are deeply concerning," 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 enter a country."

He continued, "This policy creates a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

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

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for the border agency provided clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase 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 coming into the country, especially after the terrorist incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."