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A recently unveiled requirement for World Cup supporters traveling to the United States to disclose personal online profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit details about social media accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Previously, submitting this data was optional.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director 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 continued, "This policy creates a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by former President Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency offered context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the country," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the American people secure."

The spokesperson added, "The department are constantly looking at how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."