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A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup fans journeying to the United States to hand over their social media account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to submit information about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head 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 climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order signed by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the public secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, especially after the terrorist attack in the capital. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather additional information from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."