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A recently unveiled requirement for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the US to disclose personal social media account information has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this information was voluntary.

"These 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 surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan follows an presidential directive issued 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."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency offered clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the country," the official said. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the public secure."

The spokesperson added, "We are constantly looking at how we screen those entering the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the earlier Executive Order to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to gather further data from foreign nationals applying through the visa waiver programme."