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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament fans journeying to the US to disclose personal social media profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, tourists from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit information about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No football fan gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "The measure creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The plan follows an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A spokesperson for the border agency offered clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those coming to the United States," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the American people safe."

The spokesperson added, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in the capital. The measure is in line with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."