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A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup supporters traveling to the US to hand over personal online account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit information about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, providing this information was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure creates a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for the border agency provided context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those traveling to the country," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the public secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."