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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans journeying to the US to disclose personal social media account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Applicants

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—including 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 past five years. Until now, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan gives up those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all aliens seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent possible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the official stated. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the public secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."